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Congresswoman Cammack Blasts Meta In Letter To CEO Mark Zuckerberg Over Internal Policy Memo Regarding Unchanged Human Smuggling Policy

February 11, 2022

GAINESVILLE, FL — Today, Congresswoman Cammack sent a letter to Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg over Meta’s recent decision to allow "content soliciting smuggling services and sharing information related to illegal border crossing[s]." In a recently obtained internal Meta memo, the company confirmed it has an explicit policy that allows content soliciting smuggling services, despite the ongoing humanitarian crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border.

In May 2021, Congresswoman Cammack sent an initial letter to the company bringing attention to the thousands of advertisements and paid content on Facebook, later assured by company executives that actions were actively being taken to track and remove this illegal content. In the time since, however, Meta has done nothing to moderate content with illegal activities, instead reaffirming its human smuggling policy and allowing trafficking-related content to be posted.

In the letter, Cammack writes: "As you well know, the ongoing situation at the southwest border is a humanitarian crisis. Cartels exploit individuals seeking to cross the U.S.-Mexico border illegally. Due to the record volume of illegal crossings, Border Patrol agents are required to take care of children and process migrants, while their primary role of securing the border is secondary. As a result, more humans, drugs, and weapons are trafficked through our southwest border and Americans are left to pay the price."

"I'm disappointed to see that Meta has done nothing to moderate this illegal content on its platforms," said Rep. Cammack. "I met with multiple representatives from the company last year who took great care to tell me about the steps they were taking, only to find out that their policy has not changed."

Cammack urges Meta to promptly change the company's policy to explicitly prohibit content that encourages illegal border crossings and trafficking.

More information about the letter can be found below and in this story reported by the Washington Free Beacon.

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February 11, 2022

Mark Zuckerberg
Chief Executive Officer
Meta Platforms, Inc.
1 Hacker Way
Menlo Park, CA 94025

Dear Mr. Zuckerberg,

I am deeply concerned about Meta's recent decision to allow "content soliciting smuggling services and sharing information related to illegal border crossing." Meta's decision will undoubtedly continue to exacerbate the crisis at the Southwest border, as it has over the last year, by encouraging and facilitating criminal activity.

As you well know, the ongoing situation at the Southwest border is a humanitarian crisis. Cartels exploit individuals seeking to cross the U.S.-Mexico border illegally. Due to the record volume of illegal crossings, Border Patrol agents are required to take care of children and process migrants, while their primary role of the securing the border is secondary. As a result, more humans, drugs, and weapons are trafficked through our Southwest border, and Americans are left to pay the price. In fact, the leading cause of death for Americans between the ages of 18 and 45 is now fentanyl.

In the time since I sent a previous letter in May 2021, Meta has done nothing to moderate content regarding illegal activities. In a call with officials at Facebook shortly after the letter had been received, our team was assured actions were being taken regarding such content. Instead, Meta has enabled the cartels by providing a forum to coordinate illegal border crossings and trafficking for transnational criminal organizations.

In Meta's internal memo, the company confirmed that it has an explicit policy that allows "content soliciting smuggling services and sharing information related to illegal border crossing." I am confident Meta understands that social media companies are the primary methods of communication individuals use when organizing illicit border crossings and trafficking. As a result, this company policy surely has a direct impact on the border crisis and is making it worse.

I strongly urge Meta to promptly change the company policy to explicitly prohibit content that encourages illicit border crossings and trafficking.

Sincerely,

Kat Cammack
Member of Congress