Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody has called upon Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg to address the alarming prevalence of human trafficking across Meta's platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and WhatsApp. This follows a disturbing report highlighting the exploitation of children in the metaverse by pedophiles.

Moody's letter to Zuckerberg urges him to testify before Florida's Statewide Council on Human Trafficking, outlining the steps Meta is taking to combat this issue. She emphasized the urgency of the situation, suggesting Zuckerberg prioritize user safety over ventures like the proposed cage match. Moody's call to action comes amidst growing concerns about the safety of online platforms, particularly for vulnerable individuals.

A statewide survey of Florida law enforcement agencies revealed a significant connection between Meta platforms and human trafficking. Out of 271 reported instances where social media was used in human trafficking cases, 146 were linked to Meta's platforms. This data underscores the need for immediate action to prevent these platforms from being used to facilitate such crimes.

Furthermore, a 2022 Federal Human Trafficking report identified Facebook as the primary platform used for recruiting victims between 2019 and 2022. The report also found that over half of traffickers utilize the internet to find buyers for commercial sex. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children's CyberTipline received a staggering 32 million reports in 2022, with a significant portion originating from Meta's platforms – over 21 million from Facebook and 5 million from Instagram.

While Meta disputes the accuracy of these findings and asserts its commitment to fighting human exploitation, the company has not confirmed whether Zuckerberg will respond to Moody's request by the September 5 deadline. This incident follows a recent report by the U.K.'s National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) that revealed the metaverse is being used by pedophiles to exploit children, raising further concerns about online safety and the need for stronger preventative measures.