President-elect Donald Trump's transition team has extended an invitation to five major tech companies, including Google (GOOGL.O), opens new tab, Microsoft (MSFT.O), opens new tab and Meta Platforms (META.O), opens new tab to a meeting in mid-December about dealing with online sales of drugs, the Information reported.
According to the report, a representative for Jim Carroll, the drug czar during Trump's first term, and the president-elect's transition team emailed employees from three major tech companies, including Snap and TikTok to invite them to a call, citing a person with direct knowledge of the correspondence, reports Reuters.
The transition officials aim to hear from the companies regarding their priorities and any challenges they encounter in addressing issues related to online drug sales, the source informed The Information.
Trump has promised to push Mexico to take stronger action against the flow of fentanyl into the U.S., which has caused the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Americans. He also warned of imposing significant tariffs on goods from Mexico and Canada unless they address fentanyl trafficking and illegal immigration.
In November, Trump announced on Truth Social that he "will be launching a large-scale U.S. advertising campaign to raise awareness about the dangers of fentanyl use."
In March, The Wall Street Journal revealed that U.S. prosecutors were looking into Meta's involvement and whether it profited from the sale and distribution of drugs on Facebook and Instagram.
In January, eBay agreed to pay $59 million and enhance its compliance measures to resolve accusations from the U.S. Department of Justice that it failed to prevent criminals from acquiring devices used to produce counterfeit drugs, including fentanyl-laced pills.
None of the invited companies or Trump's transition team have commented on the upcoming meeting yet, says the reports.
Bd-pratidin English/ Afia
