This screen grab from a Facebook group and photographed on a computer screen in Washington, Monday, April 9, 2018, shows what appears to be a bucket of tiger teeth offered for sale on a Facebook page. In a complaint filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, wildlife preservation advocates allege that Facebook's failure to stop illicit traders utilizing its platform for illegal activity violates the social network's responsibilities as a publicly traded company. (AP Photo)
Republished April 09, 2018 - 9:06 PM
Original Publication Date April 09, 2018 - 4:51 PM
WASHINGTON - Facebook is being accused of violating its responsibilities as a publicly traded company by failing to stop illicit traders using its service for illegal activity.
The charge comes in a secret complaint filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. A copy of the complaint was provided to The Associated Press.
Facebook displays advertisements for well-known American corporations on group pages operated by overseas wildlife traffickers illegally selling the body parts of threatened animals. The body parts include elephant ivory, rhino horn and tiger teeth.
The complaint was initially filed in August on behalf of an undercover informant represented by a non-profit legal advocacy group, the National Whistleblower Center. Its executive director, Stephen Kohn, says Facebook "is not an innocent bystander to these crimes."
Facebook didn't respond to requests for comment.
News from © The Associated Press, 2018