- In a new podcast, @thestar.com reporters Ben Mussett and Omar Mosleh talk about their report into Meta drug ads that led to them receiving cocaine and oxycodone in the mail. TTP’s research has shown the frequency of these ads, and their reporting paints a shocking picture of the real-world harm.
- Like the ads surfaced in TTP’s research, some of the ads @thestar.com saw were “extremely blatant.” When they engaged with the ads, they were surprised to find they could easily pay for the drugs using a popular Canadian funds transfer service. player.fm/series/this-...
- One source first came across the ads *while in rehab*, and believes that his location at the time and his membership in Facebook groups discussing drug use were reasons he was targeted. He ordered the drugs before leaving rehab and said “it really derailed his life for quite some time.”Dec 5, 2025 15:22
- Ben and Omar said the 3rd party sites the Meta ads linked to were extremely user friendly, and some even offered rewards points for repeat customers. One source told them that, when he was in rehab, a leftover balance of points on his account tempted him to use again.
- When looking at the ad library while recording the podcast episode, they said that there may be even more ads running on Meta now than when they published the investigation. You can read their complete investigation here: www.thestar.com/news/investi...
- Despite the discoverability of these ads, and the clear harm that they are doing to vulnerable people, Meta inexplicably hasn’t put a stop to them. You can read TTP’s own investigation into the issue here: www.techtransparencyproject.org/articles/met...
