Houston Courts Allow Lawsuits Against Facebook for Human Trafficking
Blizzard Greenberg, PLLC is a law firm in Houston, Texas that works compassionately and closely with victims of human trafficking, helping victims and their families pursue lawsuits against companies that may have permitted these activities to occur. Our human trafficking lawyers also pursue companies that may have looked the other way, knowing that human trafficking was occurring on their properties. Our firm is taking cases from clients who were victims of human trafficking by being held captive in hotels and from victims who were solicited online through social media platforms. Recent news indicates that social media platforms may be yet another place where human traffickers have been recruiting and exploiting victims.
Hotels have faced intense scrutiny in recent months for failing to take action when they saw evidence of human trafficking on their properties. However, social media giants like Facebook are also under scrutiny. also for failing to take action when they knew that human trafficking was taking place on their sites. According to the Houston Chronicle, some victims of human trafficking are taking Facebook to court, alleging that the site knowingly permitted human traffickers to recruit victims through its platform. Under a law known as FOSTA-SESTA, it is illegal to assist, support, or facilitate human trafficking. Houston courts ruled that the lawsuits against Facebook could move forward and that Facebook is not immune from civil liability.
This ruling could be significant, because in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, NBC News reports that sex traffickers have increased their use of social media platforms. Some of these companies may have relaxed their efforts to moderate this content, but unlike many brick and mortar businesses, the internet never sleeps. NBC reports that with moderators out of work, it may take internet platforms longer to respond to or address reports of pornographic material. While some automated systems can flag material that is obviously pornographic, many companies rely on human moderators to flag emails and reports.
The Covid-19 pandemic has created what many consider to be “a perfect storm” for illegal activity. At the end of the day, victims continue to have the power to fight back. When companies fail to take action to prevent sexual exploitation or violence, despite continuing to record major profits, they should be held accountable.
The human trafficking lawyers at Blizzard Greenberg, PLLC in Houston, Texas are here to help victims and their families fight back. The laws are in place to protect you and our lawyers can help you navigate the legal system. Contact Blizzard Greenberg today or connect with us through USAttorneys.com to get matched with a lawyer who can help you seek compensation for your losses. We work hard to protect the anonymity and privacy of our clients and can help you in a manner that protects your privacy while holding companies accountable.
