New Mexico Sues Snap Inc. Over Alleged Child Exploitation on Snapchat

New Mexico has filed a lawsuit against Snap Inc., owner of Snapchat, alleging the app's design helps facilitate child sexual exploitation. The state's investigation found Snapchat as a major platform for sextortion. Snap Inc. maintains it has invested heavily in security measures and cooperates with law enforcement.

New Mexico announced on Thursday that it has filed a lawsuit against Snap Inc., the company behind Snapchat, alleging that the app's policies and design features enable the distribution of child sexual exploitation material.

The lawsuit, led by State Attorney General Raul Torrez, revealed that a lengthy investigation identified Snapchat as a central platform for sextortion. This disturbing trend involves predators coercing minors into sending explicit content, then threatening to release the material unless more content or money is provided.

A Snap spokesperson responded by stating the company would review the complaint and address it in court. Emphasizing Snap's commitment, the spokesperson noted that the company has invested hundreds of millions in trust and safety initiatives and continues collaborating with law enforcement and online safety experts.

Popular among teens, Snapchat is known for its ephemeral messages that disappear after 24 hours. However, Attorney General Torrez argued that Snap has misled users, as predators are able to permanently save such content, creating a virtual repository of child sexual exploitation images.

An undercover investigation included setting up a fake Snapchat account for a 14-year-old, which engaged with accounts featuring explicit names. Authorities uncovered 10,000 records tied to Snapchat and child sexual abuse material on dark web sites, marking Snapchat as a significant source of such content.

This lawsuit follows a similar action New Mexico took against Meta Platforms in December, accusing it too of failing to safeguard children from sexual predators.

(With inputs from agencies.)