New Mexico AG sues Snapchat, says it knew about ‘rampant’ sextortion

Craig Nigrelli

NEW MEXICO’S ATTORNEY GENERAL SAYS INTERNAL DOCUMENTS FROM SNAPCHAT SHOW THE COMPANY KNEW “SEXTORTION” WAS RAMPANT ON THE SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM… BUT DID NOTHING TO STOP IT.

THE DOCUMENTS – WHICH ARE PART OF AN ONGOING LAWSUIT – WERE UN-REDACTED TUESDAY.

IN THE LAWSUIT – ATTORNEY GENERAL RAÚL TORREZ CLAIMS SNAPCHAT’S PARENT COMPANY, SNAP, KNEW ABOUT A SO-CALLED “SEXTORTION HANDBOOK” CIRCULATING THE DARK WEB… WHICH GAVE INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW USE THE SNAP MAPS FEATURE TO TARGET A SCHOOL.

SEXTORTION IS WHEN A PERSON LEADS A VICTIM TO SEND NAKED OR COMPROMISING PHOTOS OF THEMSELVES – THEN THREATENS THE VICTIM TO MAKE THE IMAGES PUBLIC UNLESS THE VICTIM PAYS MONEY OR PERFORMS SEXUAL FAVORS.

THE LAWSUIT ALSO SAYS IN 20-22 ALONE, SNAP EMPLOYEES WERE AWARE OF 10-THOUSAND REPORTS OF SEXTORTION INVOLVING THE PLATFORM EACH MONTH…

AND IN AN INTERNAL COMPANY EMAIL IT ACKNOWLEDGED THE REPORTS LIKELY ONLY ACCOUNTED FOR A QUOTE “FRACTION OF THE ABUSE.”

THE LAWSUIT ALSO CLAIMS MULTIPLE REPORTS ABOUT SEXTORTION AND GROOMING MADE AGAINST THE SAME USERS WERE MOSTLY IGNORED.

AND THE LAWSUIT ALLEGES INTERNAL DATA COLLECTED BY SNAP SHOWS ABOUT A THIRD OF ITS YOUNG USERS HAD BEEN EXPOSED TO UNWANTED CONTACT.

THE NEW MEXICO A-G’S LAWSUIT ALSO CLAIMS SNAP OPENLY PROMOTES CHILD TRAFFICKING… AND THE SALE OF ILLICIT DRUGS AND GUNS.

SNAPCHAT RESPONDED TO THE FILING IN A POST A STATEMENT ON ITS WEBSITE TUESDAY… SAYING SNAPCHAT WAS DESIGNED QUOTE –

“WITH BUILT-IN SAFETY GUARDRAILS, AND HAVE MADE DELIBERATE DESIGN CHOICES TO MAKE IT DIFFICULT FOR STRANGERS TO DISCOVER MINORS ON OUR SERVICE.”