President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team is planning a meeting in December with five major technology companies—Google, Meta, Microsoft, Snap, and TikTok—to discuss measures to combat the issue of online drug sales, according to Reuters.
A report from The Information stated that representatives from Trump’s transition team, including officials associated with Jim Carroll, the drug policy chief during Trump’s first term, sent emails on Thursday inviting executives from these companies to participate in the meeting.
The meeting aims to address the companies’ priorities and the challenges they face in curbing the sale of illicit drugs online, sources revealed. However, none of the invited companies—Google, Microsoft, Meta, Snap, or TikTok—nor Trump’s team have issued immediate comments on the planned discussion.
Trump has vowed to enforce stricter measures on Mexico to halt the flow of fentanyl into the United States. He has also threatened to impose high tariffs on goods from Mexico and Canada if they fail to take action against drug trafficking and illegal immigration.
In a November post on Truth Social, Trump pledged to launch a large-scale campaign to raise awareness about the harmful effects of fentanyl in the United States.
Meanwhile, The Wall Street Journal reported in March that U.S. prosecutors are investigating Meta for its alleged role in facilitating drug sales on Facebook and Instagram and profiting from such activities.
In January, eBay agreed to pay $59 million in fines and implement stricter controls to settle allegations from the U.S. Department of Justice regarding the sale of drug manufacturing equipment on its platform.
