The US authorities have launched investigations against Meta, the parent company of well-known online platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. The accusation: The services of the technology company could play a role in the illegal trade of drugs, particularly the horror drug Fentanyl. According to a report by the "Wall Street Journal," the investigations in the southern state of Virginia are focusing on the extent to which Meta platforms facilitate the distribution of these substances and possibly profit from it.

Fentanyl, a Synthetic Opioid About 80 Times Stronger Than Morphine, Is at the Center of the Current Drug Crisis in the USA. It Has Caused Thousands of Deaths by Overdose and Has Become the Leading Cause of Death for US Citizens Aged 18 to 49. The Proliferation of This Substance, Often Through Social Networks, Raises Critical Questions About the Responsibility and Role of Technology Companies in Combating Drug Abuse.

Meta has stated in response to the accusations that the sale of unauthorized drugs violates its own policies and that continuous efforts are made to remove such content from its platforms. Moreover, Nick Clegg, a senior manager at Meta, has announced that the company intends to actively combat the trade of synthetic drugs in collaboration with the U.S. Department of State, the United Nations, and Snapchat.

Despite these efforts, Meta is now in the spotlight of investigative authorities, highlighting the complexity and challenges in the digital age, where the boundaries between legal and illegal use of online platforms are increasingly blurred. Developments in this case could have far-reaching consequences for how technology companies regulate and monitor their platforms to prevent abuse for criminal activities.