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🇸🇬 Singapore /Crime & Justice

For sale on Facebook: Monkeys, rhino horn and dead pangolins

From The Straits Times · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Social media platforms, particularly Meta's Facebook, are facilitating rampant illegal wildlife trafficking, according to conservationists.
  • A report accuses Meta of hosting the largest known illegal wildlife trade market and potentially encouraging it through revenue sharing and subscriptions.
  • Despite Meta's policies, platforms continue to host thousands of illegal wildlife product advertisements, with little action taken on reported content.

Facebook and other Meta platforms are becoming a central hub for illegal wildlife trafficking, conservationists warn. Dozens of posts reviewed by AFP reveal the sale of endangered species, including pangolins and rhino horn, advertised as "seasonal wild delicacies." These platforms, particularly Facebook, are accused of hosting the world's largest known illegal wildlife trade market.

Even the unredacted accounts and groups we reported on publicly in the report are still live and active.

— Russell GrayA data scientist and ecologist described the continued presence of illegal wildlife trade content on social media platforms.

A recent report by several NGOs claims Meta effectively encourages this trade by sharing advertising revenues with users and allowing subscription models. This monetization strategy, conservationists argue, incentivizes illegal activities as popular accounts gain more engagement and, consequently, more income. The report highlights that even after being reported, many advertisements for illegal wildlife products remain active on the platforms.

I have not once received a response or seen any action taken.

— Tom TaylorThe chief operating officer of Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand expressed frustration with the lack of action on illegal wildlife trade posts.

Conservationists express frustration with Meta's response, noting that policies restricting the sale of endangered species have had little impact. Data scientists and ecologists who have reported specific accounts and groups say they remain live and active. Wildlife organizations report receiving no response or seeing no action taken on accounts openly breaking the law. They are calling for these accounts to be closed and for investigations into the criminal activities behind them.

This content monetisation that Facebook and Instagram push is actually incentivising people to commit illegal acts.

— Daniel StilesAn independent wildlife trafficking investigator explained how Meta's monetization strategies encourage illegal activities.

Meta has declined to comment on the specific allegations but has pointed to existing policies against the sale of endangered species. However, the ongoing prevalence of illegal wildlife trade on its platforms suggests a significant gap between policy and enforcement. The Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime (GI-TOC) research indicates that Facebook is now the primary public infrastructure for concentrating, discovering, and scaling online wildlife trafficking.

The more interaction and engagement they get on their account, the more money they can make.

— Daniel StilesAn independent wildlife trafficking investigator elaborated on how engagement translates to financial gain for those involved in illegal trade.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Straits Times. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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