In a legal battle that raises urgent questions about the responsibilities of social media platforms, New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez is taking on tech giants once again. This time, the focus is on Snap, the parent company of Snapchat, which Torrez alleges has built an online playground where predators lurk in the shadows.
Snapchat, famous for its promise of fleeting messages, is now accused of offering more illusion than protection. According to the lawsuit, the app’s disappearing photo feature isn’t as safe as it seems. In fact, Torrez claims that predators are exploiting this very feature, turning supposedly temporary images into a permanent collection of child exploitation material.
“Snap has led users to believe their content vanishes,” Torrez said, “but the reality is much darker. Predators are capturing and hoarding these images, creating an invisible archive of abuse.”
The lawsuit is part of a broader effort by the New Mexico Department of Justice to hold social media companies accountable. Torrez has already launched litigation against Meta, the owner of Facebook, claiming the platform also fails to protect children from sexual predators. A New Mexico judge recently rejected Meta’s attempt to dismiss the case, clearing the way for further legal action.
While Snap insists on its commitment to user safety, the lawsuit throws a spotlight on the tensions between tech innovation and child safety. Profits may be the driving force behind these companies, but as the Attorney General makes clear, the safety of children must come first. How this legal struggle will play out remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the debate over social media’s role in society just got a lot more intense.
(Source: Washington Post | Street Insider)
