Facebook Is Still A Hotbed Of Drug Ads And Fake Vaccine Certificates

Facebook is again filled with ads selling illegal drugs. (photo: Thought Catalog/Unsplash)

JAKARTA - Facebook is again filled with advertisements selling illegal drugs and fake certificates for COVID-19 vaccines. Even though it has been banned on social media, the perpetrator behind all of this seems to have another way.

First reported by the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH) based in London, UK, the perpetrators appear to easily circumvent Facebook's algorithms designed to filter the content, and promote their wares to millions of users.

This includes drugs such as marijuana, LSD, and magic mushrooms, plus fake 20 euro notes and a hacking service to help spy on partners.

According to the Daily Mail, Tuesday, January 4, advertisements for weapons, ammunition, and illegal drugs were also found, even targeted at a Russian audience. CCDH admits to finding dozens of illegal advertisements in just a few days. They also suspect Facebook's vetting process is not fit for purpose.

Most users who click on ads will be redirected to Telegram, as a place of transactions, "As much as 98 percent of Facebook's revenue comes from advertising. This explains why they prioritize giving freedom to advertisers," said CCDH, Imran Ahmed.

He also said Facebook is an important part of criminals' marketing strategy because it gives them access to millions of people with a single click.

A spokesperson for Meta, Facebook's parent company, stated, "Our policy prohibits the promotion of these items. Our enforcement is never perfect, but we are always making improvements," he explained.

Facebook has long been a hotbed of fake drug advertisers, last year when Vice International investigated ads promoting Ivermectin as a cure for COVID-19.

Ivermectin is an anti-parasitic drug commonly used in veterinary medicine, and for some reason, amateur doctors and anti-vax skeptics have started promoting the drug as a treatment for COVID-19.

There is no evidence to support the use of Ivermectin to combat COVID-19, and actually taking the drug may be dangerous. Vice can find ads promoting Ivermectin through Facebook's ad library, which archives all ads posted on the platform.