New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas has filed a lawsuit against Snap Inc., the company behind the popular social media app Snapchat, alleging that the platform has been used for child sexual extortion. The lawsuit claims that Snapchat failed to protect its young users from sexual abuse and exploitation, allowing predators to target them through the app.
According to the lawsuit, Snapchat’s “Quick Add” feature, which suggests new friends based on mutual connections, has been exploited by predators to connect with minors and coerce them into sending explicit photos or videos. The lawsuit alleges that Snap Inc. has been aware of this issue but has failed to take adequate measures to prevent it.
Attorney General Balderas called Snapchat’s actions “reprehensible” and stated that the company has “put the safety and well-being of children at risk.” He also criticized Snapchat for failing to implement age verification measures and for not adequately monitoring and reporting instances of child sexual exploitation on the platform.
Snap Inc. has responded to the lawsuit, stating that they take the safety of their users, especially minors, very seriously. The company has also emphasized their commitment to working with law enforcement and other organizations to prevent child exploitation on their platform.
The lawsuit filed by the New Mexico Attorney General is part of a broader effort to hold social media companies accountable for the potential harms their platforms can cause, especially to vulnerable populations such as children. Balderas urged parents to be vigilant and monitor their children’s online activities to protect them from potential predators on social media platforms like Snapchat.
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