New Mexico accuses Snapchat of facilitating child sexual exploitation

CBS News

A lawsuit filed Thursday by New Mexico against Snap, the company that operates the popular social media app, alleges design features of Snapchat have made it a favorite platform for sex offenders who target children.

An undercover state investigation has revealed that Snapchat “created an environment where predators can easily target children through sextortion schemes and other forms of sexual abuse,” Attorney General Raul Torrez said in a news release.

Sextortion is a fast-growing crime in which someone poses as a peer and coerces minors into sending explicit images or videos of themselves, then threatens to distribute the material unless they are paid. The scam has led to numerous teen suicides, the AG noted.

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