META - Do Meta And Other Platforms Play A Role In Illicit Drug Sales? US Prosecutors Intend To Find Out | Benzinga
Prosecutors in Virginia are probing whether Facebook-parent Meta's social media platforms Facebook and Instagram are facilitating and profiting from the illegal sale of drugs, according to a Saturday Wall Street Journal report.
Led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Randy Ramseyer, the investigation includes delving into whether Meta (NASDAQ:META) failed to adequately remove drug-related content from its platforms.
Citing documents and people familiar with the matter, the article notes that prosecutors had sent subpoenas in 2023 and have been asking questions as part of a criminal grand jury probe.
Ramseyer, who previously investigated Purdue Pharma's marketing of OxyContin, requested the subpoenas. Ramseyer was featured in the Hulu miniseries "Dopesick," about the opioid crisis in the U.S.
The WSJ noted that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is also assisting in the probe. Meta maintains it has policies against drug sales, removes such content and collaborates ...