As the United States grapples with a worsening opioid crisis, President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team is turning to major tech companies to address the growing online sale of illegal drugs, particularly fentanyl.
Tech giants such as Google, Microsoft, Meta, Snap, and TikTok are expected to join a teleconference in mid-December, as reported by The Information, to discuss their role in combating the opioid epidemic. The meeting, which comes just weeks before Trump takes office, underscores the mounting pressure on online platforms to take more responsibility in curbing the distribution of illicit drugs.
“The planned meeting is a critical step in engaging tech giants on this issue, focusing on increasing scrutiny of illegal activities on their platforms,” Zhang Yong-an, professor and director of the International Center for Drug Policy Studies (ICDPS) at Shanghai University, told CGTN. “It is an acknowledgment by Trump’s team that, to effectively combat fentanyl trafficking, collaboration with tech companies is essential, especially for monitoring online drug markets.”
The opioid crisis has claimed thousands of lives annually. Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid, has been a driving factor behind the surge in overdose deaths in the U.S., with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reporting over 108,000 overdose fatalities in 2023 alone.
A 2024 study from Johns Hopkins found that synthetic opioids, including fentanyl, have exacerbated the crisis, in part due to the proliferation of online markets where these drugs are easily purchased.
The collaboration between Trump’s transition team and tech companies may signify a new approach in tackling the epidemic by leveraging technology to identify and shut down online drug sales. However, challenges remain in balancing privacy concerns with the need for increased surveillance.
As the opioid crisis continues to escalate, the effectiveness of this initiative will depend on the commitment and cooperation between the government and the tech industry. The upcoming meeting could set the stage for comprehensive strategies aimed at reducing the availability of illicit drugs online and saving lives.
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Can Trump's push to engage tech companies curb online drug sales?
cgtn.com
