Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
This report from the **Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime** identifies **Facebook** as the primary digital infrastructure facilitating the global **illegal wildlife trade**. Data collected between 2024 and 2026 reveals that nearly **75% of illicit wildlife advertisements** appeared on the platform, involving high-value products from **endangered species** like pangolins and tigers. The authors argue that **algorithmic recommendations** and specialized **Facebook groups** actively amplify criminal networks by surfacing illegal content to users without active searching. Despite **Metaโs public pledges** to ban such sales, the research highlights systemic enforcement failures and the persistence of **monetized poaching accounts**. Consequently, the report calls for **international regulatory oversight** to replace failed voluntary self-regulation and hold social media platforms legally accountable for environmental crimes.
BIG CAT TV is a close look into the wild cat conservation efforts we support, and the exotic feline residents of Big Cat Rescue who we now support at Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge. Big Cat Rescue is a registered non-profit 501c3 so your donations are tax deductible. Wildcats in the wild: Our mission, their future. ๐พ
Subscribe here: youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=BigCatRescue
Music and both real and AI images from Meloty, Suno, HeyGen, OpenArt, Envato, Leonardo, NotebookLM, Gemini, Genspark, APM Music (https://www.apmmusic.com) and Epidemic Sound (http://www.epidemicsound.com) Artlist.io, InVideo app and other AI sources by permission and subscription.
Help save wild cats and end big cat abuse at BigCatRescue.org
Thank you for watching and tell a friend!
This report from the **Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime** identifies **Facebook** as the primary digital infrastructure facilitating the global **illegal wildlife trade**. Data collected between 2024 and 2026 reveals that nearly **75% of illicit wildlife advertisements** appeared on the platform, involving high-value products from **endangered species** like pangolins and tigers. The authors argue that **algorithmic recommendations** and specialized **Facebook groups** actively amplify criminal networks by surfacing illegal content to users without active searching. Despite **Metaโs public pledges** to ban such sales, the research highlights systemic enforcement failures and the persistence of **monetized poaching accounts**. Consequently, the report calls for **international regulatory oversight** to replace failed voluntary self-regulation and hold social media platforms legally accountable for environmental crimes.
BIG CAT TV is a close look into the wild cat conservation efforts we support, and the exotic feline residents of Big Cat Rescue who we now support at Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge. Big Cat Rescue is a registered non-profit 501c3 so your donations are tax deductible. Wildcats in the wild: Our mission, their future. ๐พ
Subscribe here: youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=BigCatRescue
Music and both real and AI images from Meloty, Suno, HeyGen, OpenArt, Envato, Leonardo, NotebookLM, Gemini, Genspark, APM Music (https://www.apmmusic.com) and Epidemic Sound (http://www.epidemicsound.com) Artlist.io, InVideo app and other AI sources by permission and subscription.
Help save wild cats and end big cat abuse at BigCatRescue.org
Thank you for watching and tell a friend!
