CONGRESSMAN MORELLE CALLS ON SNAPCHAT TO PROTECT OUR NATION’S YOUTH
Addresses Snapchat’s role in mitigating the epidemic of fatal drug poisonings taking the lives of young people
(Washington, D.C.)—Today, Congressman Joe Morelle took action to address the dangerous and illicit sale of counterfeit, fentanyl-laced pills fueling an increase in overdose deaths amongst young people, many of whom are purchasing these deadly substances on applications such as Snapchat.
“The market for illicit drugs has changed dramatically, with criminal drug traffickers turning to smartphones to sell their products creating deadly consequences for our country’s teens and young adults,” said Congressman Morelle. “While I appreciate the current work of Snap to identify illicit drug activity and shut down accounts, more must be done to protect our nation’s youth.”
Snapchat’s user interface contains unique features, such as messages and pictures that are designed to disappear immediately as well as tools intended to easily hide content. These features allow for content that is difficult to monitor and could encourage illicit behavior.
Congressman Morelle authored a letter seeking information regarding Snap’s role in mitigating the epidemic of fatal drug poisonings taking the lives of young people, including:
- As criminals take advantage of Snapchat to traffic and sell illicit substances, what actions has Snap taken to mitigate these efforts?
How has Snap prepared to adapt to the ever-changing digital age in which criminals are using these technologies with more and more sophistication?
- What resources has Snap dedicated to countering the efforts of criminals using Snapchat?
- Would Snap be supportive of federal efforts to provide formal guidance to social media companies regarding how to effectively cooperate with law enforcement?
To date, how has Snap coordinated with federal agencies to streamline prosecution efforts for those who use Snapchat to facilitate the deadly sale of counterfeit pills?
- How can Congress assist companies like Snap as they work to keep users, particularly young, impressionable users, safe from deadly content?
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