State AGs Demand Meta Address Surge in Facebook, Instagram Account Takeovers

The coalition of attorneys general calls for immediate action to combat the dramatic increase in user complaints and potential security lapses linked to layoffs.

• A coalition of 41 US state attorneys general has sent a letter to Meta, urging the company to address the surge in account takeovers on Facebook and Instagram.
• The AGs report a dramatic increase in complaints about account takeovers and lockouts, with some states experiencing a tenfold rise in complaints.
• Meta is asked to increase its investment in account takeover mitigation tactics and to enhance response efforts for affected users.
• The increase in account takeovers is suspected to be linked to Meta's massive layoffs in November 2022, which may have impacted the company's ability to manage security issues.
• Meta asserts it invests heavily in training and tools to detect compromised accounts and regularly shares tips with users on how to protect their accounts.

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