Utah Sues Snap Inc. Over Allegations of Harmful Practices

Utah officials are taking legal action against Snap Inc., the parent company of Snapchat, claiming that its algorithms are designed to be addictive for children while facilitating illegal drug sales and sexual exploitation.

Governor Spencer Cox and State Attorney General Derek Brown filed the lawsuit on Monday, stating that “the app profits from its ruthless design features which cater to addicts, enabling illegal drug transactions and sexual exploitation.”

This image-sharing platform allows users to send photos that vanish after being viewed. The lawsuit describes it as “a tool favored by drug dealers and sexual predators targeting minors.”

Specific cases are outlined in the lawsuit, detailing incidents of men grooming or abusing children through Snapchat since 2021. It also mentions the arrests of drug dealers running significant operations via the app back in 2019.

Additionally, the lawsuit raises concerns about My AI, the platform’s AI feature that enables users to send texts, photos, and videos. It argues that the state is confronting the troubling impacts of AI technology on children. The claim points out that the AI model has been seen “encouraging misinformation and providing risky advice” to users, including minors.

According to the lawsuit, “Testing on minor accounts reveals that AI suggests ways for 15-year-olds to mask alcohol and marijuana odors, and even advises 13-year-olds on how to engage in sexual encounters with significantly older individuals.”

Cox emphasized that “This lawsuit against SNAP is about accountability and establishing a clear boundary. Our children’s well-being must take precedence over business profits.” He added that they will not stand by while tech companies exploit younger audiences.

The state also accuses Snap of misleading users and parents regarding platform safety, violating Utah’s consumer privacy laws by not fully informing users about data-sharing practices and not allowing them to opt out. The lawsuit mentions that the AI feature collects geolocation data even in “Ghost Mode,” which is intended to conceal users’ locations from others.

“SNAP’s claims about user safety are an illusion,” the lawsuit declares. “The app is fundamentally unsafe and perilous.”

Snapping Inc. has been approached for comment.

This filing marks Utah’s fourth lawsuit against a social media platform, following a similar case against Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram.

Utah is not alone in its legal challenges. Earlier in April, Florida filed a lawsuit against the platform with comparable allegations regarding its impact on children.