On September 5, New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez filed a lawsuit against Snap, claiming that Snapchat has become a platform rife with sexual exploitation, child grooming, and other dangerous behaviors. The unsealed complaint alleges that Snap employees encountered 10,000 sextortion cases each month, which were ignored and never warned users. The suit also highlights how Snapchat’s disappearing messages and features like Quick Add and Snap Map make it easier for predators to target minors. The complaint accuses Snap of ignoring safety concerns, allowing drug and gun sales on the platform, and failing to provide adequate monitoring for underage users. Despite Snap’s reassurances of removing bad actors and working with law enforcement, the allegations paint Snapchat as a dangerous platform for underage users, prompting concerns from experts and law enforcement. Snap responded by emphasizing their commitment to safety measures and collaboration with various entities to strengthen defenses.
