Snapchat Launches Automatic Detection System To Prevent Drug Sales On Its Platform

Snapchat will be more careful with drug-selling content. (photo: doc. unsplash)

JAKARTA - Snapchat has just launched an automated detection system and new educational content to crack down on the sale of counterfeit pills and illegal drugs through its platform.

The new system aims to warn users about the dangers of the pill in an effort to keep their community safe from fentanyl (an analgesic drug from the narcotic class). Snapchat's parent company Snap has hired more people to respond to law enforcement requests.

It aims to present data during criminal investigations and develop an in-app educational portal called Heads Up, focusing on the dangers of fentanyl and counterfeit pills.

"We are determined to remove the sale of illegal drugs from our platform, and we have invested in proactive detection and collaboration with law enforcement to hold drug dealers accountable for the harm they cause to our community," Snap said in a  TechCrunch blog post, Friday, October 8.

"While we still have work to do, across all types of law enforcement requests we receive, our response times have increased by 85 percent year over year."

Meanwhile, the company noted that its new policy rate has increased by 112 percent during Q1 2021, and auto-detection increased by 260 percent. Snap also claims nearly two-thirds of the drug-related content found on the platform is detected automatically by its artificial intelligence systems.

The system has also worked to improve in-app reporting to make it easier for users to report drug-related content. Furthermore, when users search for drug-related keywords, they will now see a new in-app educational content portal called Alerts. The portal will display relevant educational content and is designed to prevent harm.

Heads Up distributes content from leading organizations such as Song for Charlie, Shatterproof, and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Additional content from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will be added in the coming weeks.

For information, the launch of the new system comes in response to NBC News, which is investigating the deaths of teens and young adults who allegedly used Snapchat to buy pills that turned out to be laced with fentanyl.

The report alleged that drug dealers had used social media platforms to find buyers and that Snapchat had not done enough to prevent harm.

“We have heard devastating stories from families affected by this crisis, including cases where fake pills containing fentanyl were purchased from drug dealers on Snapchat. We are determined to remove the sale of illegal drugs from our platform," Snap said.