Target: Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta
Goal: Increase resources devoted to ending wildlife tracking on Meta platforms.
Across the world, wildlife from critically endangered species are being caught, sold, and bartered as if they were disposable merchandise. And just like any other trafficked “product,” these animals often arrive damaged at their destinations. Tragically, the damage caused to wildlife – from malnourishment to severe injury – may cost them their lives. According to the Global Initiative Against Transnational and Organized Crime, social media has become the new empire of wildlife traffickers.
Nearly 80 percent of wildlife trafficking now takes place online. Platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp are favored domains for advertising and for conducting transactions. The parent companies of these platforms have made some strides in identifying and eliminating suspect posts, but more work clearly needs to be done. The Global Initiative has launched a successful tracking system known as Eco-Solve that uses sophisticated technologies to flag trafficking threats. This system has only been deployed in a handful of countries, however.
Sign the petition below to urge more broadscale investment in this potentially game-changing tool.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Mr. Zuckerberg,
“We do not allow activity related to the purchase, sale, raffle, gift, transfer, or trade of endangered and protected species on our services.” This direct declaration is included in Meta’s public guidelines. Yet in one year’s time, over 11.5 million posts associated with wildlife trafficking were flagged by your social media members.
A sizeable percentage of the wildlife trafficking currently flourishing on social media will result in further harm to already critically endangered species. The Global Initiative Against Transnational and Organized Crime has made stopping this damaging activity a core part of its own mission and has developed a comprehensive program known as Eco-Solve to combat online wildlife trafficking. The program is already being used to great success in hot-spot regions like Brazil and South Africa.
As a company with a global reach and audience, please partner with this fellow global influencer to stop individuals and organizations who traffic in the pain and suffering of vulnerable living beings.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo Credit: Aleksandar Cvetanovic
