The investigation began with a crucial lead. While delving into the trafficking and exploitation of migrant workers in the Gulf region, a trusted source contacted me, revealing a troubling rise in child sexual abuse trafficking within the United States. The COVID-19 pandemic had driven many predators online, with platforms like Facebook and Instagram being utilized for the buying and selling of children.
In 2021, I partnered with human rights journalist Mei-Ling McNamara to probe deeper into these allegations. This inquiry ultimately contributed to a significant legal setback for Meta, the parent company of Facebook, which lost a multimillion-dollar lawsuit in March 2023. At that time, the company was still operating under the Facebook brand, and there had been little media coverage regarding child trafficking on its platforms. We consulted experts from anti-trafficking NGOs and law enforcement officials to better understand the scope of the crimes being perpetrated.
Our research revealed that much of the trafficking activity on Facebook and Instagram occurred in private sections of the platforms, such as Facebook Messenger and closed Instagram accounts. Traffickers were actively seeking to groom teenagers for exploitation and subsequently advertise them to potential buyers.
Sex trafficking is defined as the use of force, fraud, or coercion in the recruitment and sale of non-consensual sex acts, regardless of whether travel is involved. According to international law, minors are incapable of giving consent to any sexual activity, making anyone who profits from or pays for sexual acts involving children—whether through direct payment or the purchase of exploitative images—a human trafficker.
One of the most effective means of gathering information on trafficking cases is through Pacer, the federal court records database. However, accessing relevant evidence can be challenging due to its lack of a text search function and the prevalence of sealed records in child exploitation cases. Consequently, I combed through Department of Justice press releases to pinpoint trafficking cases potentially linked to social media. This process required extensive hours of reviewing criminal complaints, transcripts, and exhibit documentation, often yielding shocking revelations.
I unearthed transcripts detailing negotiations for the sale of underage girls via Facebook Messenger, along with exhibit documents that included images of trafficking victims being advertised in Instagram Stories. Discussions of financial transactions and logistics were also evident. Alarmingly, none of these activities had been detected or reported by Meta.
McNamara and I reached out to former content moderators who had worked for Facebook and Instagram, responsible for identifying and removing harmful content. Many of these individuals expressed trauma from the disturbing material they frequently encountered. They reported that their attempts to flag potential child trafficking incidents often went unaddressed, with harmful content rarely removed. They felt powerless, believing that Meta’s criteria for escalating potential crimes to law enforcement were overly restrictive.
In July 2022, we traveled to Washington, D.C., to visit a safe house operated by the nonprofit organization Courtney’s House, which provides support for teenage girls of color who are survivors of trafficking or currently at risk. The location was kept confidential, and we received the address only shortly before our appointment. Tina Frundt, a trafficking survivor and former member of the United States Advisory Council on Human Trafficking during the Obama administration, runs the house.
During our extensive conversation in the living room, Frundt shared insights on how traffickers exploit Instagram’s Stories feature to advertise sexual services involving minors. She detailed the targeting of girls and LGBTQ+ youth, highlighting instances where family members were complicit in their trafficking. She paused for a moment, visibly affected, before recounting the tragic story of a 15-year-old girl who had frequented Courtney’s House. Known for her vibrant personality, she was beloved by her peers and the staff. Tragically, after engaging with a sex buyer she met on Instagram, the girl was given fentanyl-laced drugs and tragically lost her life. For the purposes of our investigation, we referred to her as Maya to protect her family’s privacy.
On another reporting trip, we visited an assistant district attorney’s office in Massachusetts. During our discussions about the rising incidence of child trafficking on social media—estimated to increase by around 30% annually—two police officers and a cyber intelligence analyst joined us. The pandemic exacerbated the situation, as children spent more time online due to remote learning, reducing their contact with teachers and other adults who might have identified signs of distress.
The prosecutor indicated that traffickers could easily identify vulnerable children based on their online activity, making them prime targets for grooming and exploitation. “We’re witnessing an influx of individuals with substantial criminal histories entering this field. It’s incredibly profitable,” the prosecutor noted. “Now, appointments are arranged online, and payments can be made digitally, allowing traffickers to operate seamlessly.”
As we delved into various investigations, it became apparent that Meta was grappling with the challenge of preventing the exploitation of children on its platforms. The company vigorously contested the allegations made against it.
