In a significant legal action, the state of New Mexico has filed a lawsuit against Snap, the parent company of Snapchat, alleging that the popular social media platform serves as a "breeding ground" for predators targeting children. The suit, filed on 2024-09-04, claims that Snapchat's distinctive feature of disappearing messages has inadvertently created an environment conducive to inappropriate and potentially dangerous interactions.
The New Mexico Department of Justice conducted a months-long undercover investigation, employing a decoy account to expose the platform's vulnerabilities. Their findings suggest that Snapchat's algorithm recommends accounts of strangers to underage users, potentially facilitating harmful connections.
"There's a notion that content that is exchanged on the platform disappears forever. [Snap] has created this false sense of security in the way that it's marketed the platform … and that makes it so dangerous, especially for young ones."
This lawsuit is part of a broader international effort to address the proliferation of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) online. It follows similar actions against other tech giants, including a lawsuit filed by New Mexico against Meta and Mark Zuckerberg in 2023.
Snapchat, founded in 2011 by Evan Spiegel, Bobby Murphy, and Reggie Brown, has grown to over 750 million monthly active users worldwide as of 2023. Its popularity among teenagers, with half of all U.S. teens using the app daily, makes the platform's safety measures particularly crucial.
The investigation uncovered disturbing links between Snapchat and dark web sites sharing explicit images. Investigators found more than 10,000 explicit photos and videos apparently linked to Snapchat, including examples of minors younger than 13 being sexually assaulted.
While Snapchat has implemented safety measures, including expanding warnings when strangers add teens and introducing end-to-end encryption for snaps in 2018, the lawsuit alleges these efforts are insufficient. The platform's "Snap Map" feature, introduced in 2017, which allows users to share their location, has also raised privacy concerns.
The legal action extends beyond child safety issues, touching on concerns about the facilitation of drug and gun sales on the platform. This multifaceted approach reflects the complex challenges social media companies face in moderating content and ensuring user safety.
As state enforcers take a more active role in regulating tech companies, the outcome of this lawsuit could have far-reaching implications for the social media industry. With the U.S. Senate passing a landmark bill to protect children online in July 2024, the pressure on platforms to prioritize user safety is mounting.
The case against Snapchat serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges in balancing innovation, user engagement, and safety in the rapidly evolving digital landscape. As the legal proceedings unfold, the tech industry and policymakers alike will be watching closely, recognizing the potential for this case to shape the future of online safety regulations.