WASHINGTON DC – Senators Rick Scott (R-FL)and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) announced the reintroduction of the Stopping Online Confusion for Investigative Agencies and Law-enforcement by Maintaining Evidence Determined Interparty Arrangements (SOCIAL MEDIA) Act to ensure law enforcement agencies have the tools they need to fight the sale of deadly drugs and illicit activity on social media platforms. This bipartisan bill will improve collaboration between law enforcement and social media platforms in criminal investigations and promote collaboration to ensure platforms are using best practices to combat illegal drug sales.
“As parents and grandparents, we do everything in our power to keep our kids safe, from the dangers in the world, including deadly drugs like fentanyl,” Scott said in an official statement. “The fentanyl crisis is a heartbreaking epidemic that’s killing more than 70,000 Americans every year – and while President Trump works hard to stop the flow of these drugs into our nation, Congress must take action on our end to address this crisis on every level. I’ve talked to so many parents and law enforcement officers about how these drugs are now making their way to our communities and in our kids’ hands through social media apps, with dealers specifically targeting kids, causing deadly overdoses and getting away with it. Enough is enough. Our bipartisan bill, the SOCIAL MEDIA Act will give law enforcement additional tools to combat deadly fentanyl sales online, hold drug dealers accountable and fight this epidemic to save lives.”
Shaheen echoed Scott’s concerns regarding the widespread distribution of the often fatal drug.
“The substance use crisis continues to wreak havoc in communities across New Hampshire – and tragically, we’ve seen how social media apps make it easier for young people to get their hands on deadly drugs like fentanyl,” Shaheen said. “Our bipartisan SOCIAL MEDIA Act would crack down on the illicit drug sales happening on social media by strengthening coordination between law enforcement and social media companies to prevent future overdoses.”
