Attorney General Ashley Moody is calling for Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg to appear before the Statewide Council on Human Trafficking and address the concerning results of a recent survey on human trafficking in Florida.
Moody, in a letter to Zuckerberg, highlighted the findings of the survey, which revealed that Meta platforms were responsible for 146 out of 271 reported instances of human trafficking facilitated through social media platforms.
Moody extended an invitation to Zuckerberg to testify and discuss Meta’s plans to combat the use of their platforms by human traffickers in furtherance of this abhorrent crime. The Meta umbrella includes prominent platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and WhatsApp.
The Statewide Council on Human Trafficking collaborated with law enforcement agencies to review cases where social media might have been exploited to facilitate human trafficking. The council’s next meeting is scheduled for October 2nd, and Moody has requested a response from Zuckerberg by September 5th.
Moody emphasized the urgency of addressing this issue, stating in a press release, “Rather than focusing on launching new products or engaging in futile preparations, Zuckerberg should prioritize enhancing the safety of Meta’s existing platforms and preventing the exploitation of vulnerable individuals for illicit activities like human trafficking.”
Moody pointed out that the findings of the statewide survey, along with other reports, make it evident that Meta platforms are the preferred social media applications among human traffickers seeking to prey on vulnerable individuals.
“Zuckerberg must immediately address this threat to public safety and testify before our council regarding Meta’s efforts to prevent the utilization of their platforms for aiding, facilitating, or supporting human trafficking,” Moody emphasized.
In collaboration with law enforcement agencies, Moody and the council conducted a comprehensive statewide study on documented instances since 2019 where social media was used to facilitate human trafficking, trafficking operations, or control victims. The survey was distributed to 80 law enforcement agencies, including all 67 sheriffs’ offices and police departments in major cities.
According to the 2022 Federal Human Trafficking Report, Facebook emerged as the primary platform employed for recruiting human trafficking victims between 2019 and 2022. Facebook and Instagram collectively constituted 60% of the top ten platforms identified in the study.
Article generated from various corporate media news reports.
