New Mexico sues Snapchat over alleged child abuse and exploitation

(LAUREN TAYLOR)

NEW MEXICO HAS FILED A LAWSUIT AGAINST SNAPCHAT, ACCUSING THAT SNAPCHAT HAS FACILITATED CHILD SEXUAL EXPLOITATION AND THE DISTRIBUTION OF CHILD ABUSE MATERIAL.

ATTORNEY GENERAL RAÚL TORREZ FILED THE LAWSUIT AGAINST SNAP INC. IN STATE COURT – FOLLOWING AN UNDERCOVER INVESTIGATION – ALLEGING THAT SNAPCHAT’S DESIGN AND POLICIES ALLOW EXPLOITATION.

“SNAPCHAT IS A BREEDING GROUND FOR PREDATORS TO COLLECT, FIND, CARE FOR, AND EXTORT SEXUALLY EXPLICIT IMAGES OF CHILDREN,” THE LAWSUIT ALLEGES.

THE COURT CASE FINDS THAT SNAPCHAT’S ALGORITHMS FACILITATE CHILD TRAFFICKING, DRUG SALES AND FIREARMS, IN ADDITION TO SEXUAL ABUSE.

ACCORDING TO THE COMPLAINT, SNAPCHAT IS THE LEADING PLATFORM AMONG ALL SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS IN REGARDS TO REPORTED ONLINE SEXUAL INTERACTIONS WITH MINORS AND THE RECRUITMENT OF SEX TRAFFICKING VICTIMS.

THE STUDY DISCOVERED MORE THAN 10,000 RECORDS OF CHILD ABUSE MATERIAL IN JUST ONE YEAR, INCLUDING INFORMATION ABOUT ASSAULTS OF MINORS UNDER THE AGE OF 13.

RESEARCHERS ALSO DISCOVERED SNAPCHAT ACCOUNTS THAT OPENLY PROMOTE AND SELL PHOTOS OF CHILD ABUSE DIRECTLY ON THE PLATFORM.

THE CASE BRINGS ATTENTION TO THE WIDESPREAD PROBLEM OF SEXUAL EXTORTION, OR “SEXTORTION,” IN WHICH VICTIMS ARE FORCED TO SHARE EXPLICIT PHOTOGRAPHS AND THEN BE CHAPTED.

THE LAWSUIT FOLLOWS A SIMILAR LAWSUIT TORREZ FILED AGAINST META LAST DECEMBER, WHICH SHOWS THAT SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS ARE HELD MORE RESPONSIBLE FOR USER SAFETY.

FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS I’M LAUREN TAYLOR.