The United States has entered into an agreement with leading social media companies to deter the distribution of synthetic drugs through their platforms. The initiative, known as the Alliance to Prevent Drug Harms, involves partnerships with Meta, which operates Facebook and WhatsApp, as well as X and Snap Inc., the parent company of Snapchat.
U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield emphasized the important role that technology companies play in combating illegal activities related to synthetic drugs and educating the public about the risks associated with their use. The collaboration aims to disrupt online drug activities and increase awareness of the dangers of synthetic drug misuse.
Thomas-Greenfield highlighted the global nature of the synthetic drug crisis and stressed the need for a collective effort from governments and various sectors to address the issue. Social media platforms have been exploited by criminals for coordinating illicit drug activities, making it crucial to counter such activities online.
While specific strategies were not detailed during the signing ceremony, Snap Inc.’s global platform safety chief, Jacqueline Beauchere, shared the company’s existing measures to create a hostile environment for drug distributors. Meta’s trust and safety vice president, Nell McCarthy, pointed out the potential for their platform to support efforts against the opioid epidemic.
The inception of the Prevent Alliance emerged from discussions held at the U.N. General Assembly gathering of world leaders in September 2023. The alliance’s objectives align with the U.S. State Department’s Global Coalition to Address Synthetic Drug Threats, a multilateral initiative launched by Secretary of State Antony Blinken in July.
Various stakeholders, including companies involved in drug production, distribution, marketing, and financial networks, are seen as essential partners in combating illicit drug activities. Delphine Schantz, from the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime, highlighted the global impact of illicit drug use, citing statistics from the 2024 World Drug Report, which indicated a significant increase in drug consumption over the last decade.
