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Meta apps on a smartphone: “win the war and rage on meta”
Photo: Jenny Kane / AP
In the USA, pressure is growing on Meta to stop misuse of its online platforms Facebook and Instagram.
40 states and the capital district of Washington called on the company to do something about the sharp increase in the number of private user accounts hijacked by fraudsters.
New York Attorney General Letitia James warned that fraudsters are "winning the war and rampaging on Meta" after the company cut thousands of security and privacy jobs.
Since 2019, complaints about fraud have increased by a thousand percent in New York alone, according to a letter from the states to Meta.
The fraudsters would access accounts and read private messages and impersonate the owners.
“Social media connects millions of Americans to one another,” James said in a statement.
»If your social media account is taken over by a scammer, it can feel like someone is sneaking into your house and changing all the locks.«
In an email, a Meta spokeswoman said the company is investing heavily in technology and staff to identify hijacked accounts.
Users received tips on how to deal with the dangers.
We are also working with law enforcement authorities.
Last October, 41 states and Washington sued Meta.
They accuse the company of having designed its platforms in such a way that they addict children and damage their intellectual development.
mik/Reuters