By SUSAN MONTOYA BRYAN (Associated Press)
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico's main legal official announced on Wednesday that three men are facing charges for allegedly using Meta's social media platforms to target and try to engage in sexual activity with underage children.
The arrests followed a lengthy undercover operation where the suspects interacted with fake accounts set up by the state Department of Justice. The inquiry began in December, around the time when the state filed a lawsuit against the social media giant, alleging that Meta was not taking necessary measures to ensure the safety of children on its platforms. civil lawsuit against the social media giant, claiming Meta was failing to take basic precautionary measures to ensure children were safe on its platforms.
During a press conference on Wednesday, New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez stated that the suspects used Facebook's messenger app to communicate and exchange explicit sexual content, clearly showing a sexual interest in children.
Torrez expressed deep concern over how easily these individuals found the fake personas and emphasized the seriousness of these types of threats as a wakeup call for everyone.
Torrez attributed blame to Meta executives, including CEO Mark Zuckerberg, suggesting that the company prioritized profits over the well-being of parents and children.
He expressed frustration with the promises and assurances made to communities, to members of Congress, and policymakers that all possible measures had been taken to prevent this type of behavior.
Meta refuted the allegations, reiterating on Wednesday that it utilizes technology to prevent suspicious adults from finding or interacting with children and teenagers on its apps. The company also stated that it collaborates with law enforcement to investigate and prosecute offenders.
The company also mentioned that it has employed child safety experts, reports content to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and shares information and tools to help identify predators.
In an emailed statement, Meta emphasized that this is an ongoing battle as determined criminals adapt their tactics across platforms to avoid protections.
While the attorney general's office will continue to work on identifying predators targeting children, Torrez stated it is too early to determine if this work will impact the civil litigation.
In the pending lawsuit, New Mexico prosecutors claim they have discovered internal documents in which Meta employees estimate that around 100,000 children are subjected to sexual harassment on the company's platforms daily.
The three defendants in the criminal case were named as Fernando Clyde, Marlon Kellywood, and Christopher Reynolds. Prosecutors seek to detain them until trial on charges including solicitation of a minor via electronic communication.
Hearings are yet to be scheduled, and court records did not list attorneys who could represent Clyde and Kellywood. A message was left with the public defender's office, which is representing Reynolds.
