New Mexico AG sues Snapchat, says it is aware of ‘rampant’ sextortion

Craig Nigrelli

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF NEW MEXICO SAYS SNAPCHAT’S INTERNAL DOCUMENTS SHOW THE COMPANY KNEW “SEXTORTION” WAS WIDE ON ITS SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM… BUT TOOK NOTHING TO STOP IT.

THE DOCUMENTS – WHICH ARE PART OF AN ONGOING LEGAL CASE – WERE NOT REGISTERED ON TUESDAY.

IN THE LAWSUIT, ATTORNEY GENERAL RAÚL TORREZ CLAIMS THAT SNAPCHAT’S PARENT COMPANY, SNAP, KNEW ABOUT A SO-CALLED “SEXTORTION HANDBOOK” CIRCULATING ON THE DARK WEB… WHICH PROVIDED INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO USE SNAP MAPS FEATURE TO FILE A SCHOOL TO AIM.

SEXTORTION IS WHEN A PERSON LEADS A VICTIM TO SEND NAKED OR COMPROMISING PHOTOS OF HIMSELF – THEN THREATENS THE VICTIM TO MAKE THE IMAGES PUBLIC UNLESS THE VICTIM PAY MONEY OR PERFORM SEXUAL FAVORS.

THE LAWSUIT ALSO SAYS IN 20-22 ONLY THAT SNAP EMPLOYEES WERE AWARE OF 10,000 REPORTS OF SEXTORTION REGARDING THE PLATFORM EACH MONTH…

AND IN AN EMAIL FROM THE INTERNAL COMPANY IT ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THE REPORTS LIKELY ONLY REPRESENTED A QUOTE “FRACTION OF ABUSE.”

The lawsuit also alleges that multiple reports of sex tortion and grooming against the same users were largely ignored.

AND THE LAWSUIT ARGUES THAT INTERNAL DATA COLLECTED BY SNAP SHOWS ON A THIRD OF ITS YOUNG USERS HAVE EXPOSED TO UNWANTED CONTACT.

THE NEW MEXICO AG LAWSUIT ALSO CLAIMS THAT SNAP OPENLY PROMOTES CHILD TRAFFICKING…AND THE SALE OF ILLEGAL DRUGS AND WEAPONS.

SNAPCHAT RESPONDED TO THE SUBMISSION IN A POST A STATEMENT ON ITS WEBSITE TUESDAY… SAID SNAPCHAT IS DESIGNED QUOTE –

“WITH BUILT-IN SECURITY PROTECTIONS AND HAVE MADE DELICIOUS DESIGN CHOICES TO MAKE IT DIFFICULT FOR STRANGER TO DISCOVER MINORS ON OUR SERVICE.”