Snap Inc. Challenges Allegations from New Mexico Attorney General over Safety Concerns
Snap Inc., the parent company of Snapchat, has responded to a lawsuit filed by New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez, which claims that the app poses safety risks for children. In court filings, Snap accused the Attorney General’s office of intentionally misrepresenting user activities to portray the app as hazardous. The state’s investigation used a decoy account, allegedly representing a 14-year-old, which connected with an adult user known as "Enzo." Snap contends that the state falsely claimed the app suggested numerous adult users seeking explicit content, insisting instead that the decoy account initiated the interactions.
The tech company maintains that the assertions made by the attorney general are "patently false" and accused the office of mischaracterizing its internal documentation concerning child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Snap clarified its policy stating it does not store CSAM and actively reports such materials to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children.
In response, Lauren Rodriguez, communications director for the New Mexico Department of Justice, criticized Snap for focusing on minor details in the investigation to divert attention from the significant issues at hand. She claimed that the platform prioritizes profit over the protection of children and accused Snap of failing to implement essential changes to enhance user safety.
New Mexico’s investigation concluded that Snapchat’s features enable the sharing of CSAM and facilitate child exploitation. The attorney general’s office labeled the platform as a "breeding ground for predators," with Snap employees reportedly dealing with 10,000 sextortion cases monthly without adequate warnings to users.
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