US Congress Asks For Meta Explanation Regarding Advertising For Illegal Drugs On Its Platform

Illustration of the US Congressional office (photo: Welberg)

JAKARTA - A total of 19 members of the United States Congress sent a letter to Meta explaining the reasons why many advertisements related to illegal drugs still appear on Instagram, Facebook, Messenger, and WhatsApp.

The letter was released after reports from the Tech Transparency Project (TTP) found hundreds of advertisements related to cocaine, ecstasy, and other illegal drugs appearing on the company's platform.

Today, I led a letter along with @RepGusBilirakis @USRepKCastor and @RepLoriTrahan to @Meta following alarming reports that they are running, targeting, and profiting from hundreds of ads for illicit drugs on their platforms. https://t.co/4eBOkgRI1n

— Rep. Tim Walberg (@RepWalberg) August 15, 2024

Today, I led a letter along with @RepGusBilirakis @USRepKCastor and @RepLoriTrahan to @Meta following alarming reports that they are running, targeting, and profiting from hundreds of ads for illicit drugs on their platforms. https://t.co/4eBOkgRI1n

In the letter, Walberg and his colleagues wrote their concerns about the impact it will have on children and adolescents.

"In 2022, an average of 22 minors, aged 14 to 18 years, die in the US every week due to drug overdose. This is not due to an increase in the use of illegal drugs, but rather by the content of drugs which are becoming more deadly due to the entry of fentanyl into the United States," wrote a member of Congress in the letter.

And according to Tim Walberg, Fentanil is often found in fake oxycodones, benzodiazepin, and other recipe pills that are all found on the Meta platform, including in ads.

"Meta seems to continue to ignore its social responsibilities and oppose its own community guidelines. Protecting online users, especially children and adolescents, is one of our top priorities. We are constantly concerned that Meta is unable to carry out its duties and the negligence of this task needs to be addressed," he continued.

The letter also asked for details on Meta's policy of enforcing rules against advertisements related to illegal drugs, as well as information about how many times the ads reported were viewed and interacted. Members of Congress gave Meta a deadline of up to September 6 to retaliate.

A Meta spokesperson told Engadget the Mark Zuckerberg-owned company plans to respond to the letter.