Attorneys general from 27 U.S. states, led by Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin, are demanding that Meta, the parent company of Instagram, cease the alleged monetization of child exploitation. Recent reports by The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times accused Meta of inadequately safeguarding children against sexual exploitation, despite internal staff warnings.

The investigations highlighted concerns that Instagram facilitated “parent-managed minor accounts” profiting from suggestive photos of children, which were marketed to subscribers showing sexual interest in minors. The attorneys general co-signed a letter to Meta, urging the company to address the reported issues and prevent child exploitation on its platform.

The states involved include Alabama, Alaska, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming. The move comes amid growing scrutiny of social media platforms and their responsibility in protecting vulnerable users from exploitation.