Snapchat’s ‘disappearing’ messages make it easy for predators to target kids, state lawsuit alleges

New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez has filed a lawsuit against Snap, the owner of Snapchat, accusing the app of violating New Mexico law against unfair practices and public nuisance. The lawsuit claims that Snapchat's design elements, such as disappearing messages and the "Quick Add" button, make it a primary platform for criminals to carry out sextortion and child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Torrez's office conducted an undercover investigation, creating a decoy Snapchat account that was messaged by profiles with names like "child.rape" and "pedo_lover10." The attorney general alleges that Snapchat's claims of being "more private" and "less permanent" than other social media apps are misleading, as predators frequently capture photos and videos. Over 10,000 records related to Snap and CSAM were found on the dark web in 2023, with Snapchat being the largest source of images and videos. Torrez is using a strategy similar to his litigation against Meta, targeting the design of Snapchat's product to avoid questions about speech. A judge previously allowed a complaint against Meta to proceed, and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals allowed a lawsuit against a Snapchat-based anonymous messaging app to proceed as well. Snap spokesperson Russ Caditz-Peck stated that the company is reviewing the lawsuit and will respond in court, emphasizing their commitment to making Snapchat a safe and positive place for all users, especially younger ones.