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Illegal Wildlife Trade Thrives on Meta's Social Media
29 Jun
Summary
- Meta's platforms are called the world's largest illegal wildlife trade market.
- Thousands of illegal wildlife adverts were found on Meta platforms.
- Companies allegedly profit from illegal wildlife trade via advertising revenue.
Meta's social media platforms have been identified as the largest known market for illegal wildlife trade globally. A recent report by NGOs accuses the company of hosting tens of thousands of adverts for endangered species, including pangolins and rhino horns. Conservationists assert that Meta may be encouraging this illicit trade by sharing advertising revenues and allowing subscription models, thereby incentivizing users to post more content.
Research found over 20,000 adverts for more than 260,000 wildlife products on Meta's platforms between April 2024 and March 2026. A significant portion of these adverts remained visible and active, even after being flagged. Despite Meta's policies restricting the sale of endangered species, these measures appear insufficient to curb the rampant trafficking.
Conservation groups argue that Meta's content monetization programs, which reward engagement, inadvertently promote illegal activities. The company's recent commitment to work with other tech firms to eliminate wildlife trafficking is met with skepticism, with some warning it could be mere "lip service." Until Meta is held accountable for profiting from this trade, the online illegal wildlife market is expected to worsen.
