Facebook must face claims linked to sex trafficking, judge says

Facebook hasn’t put effective safeguards in place to block sex traffickers because it benefits from advertising to more than two billion users, according to the lawsuits. — AFP

Facebook Inc must face lawsuits filed by three US women claiming they were forced into prostitution as teenagers by abusers who used the social-media site to ensnare girls.

Justice James Blacklock of the Texas Supreme Court said in a ruling Friday the women can sue Facebook under a state law that allows legal action against those who benefit from sex trafficking. But he said they can’t pursue claims under federal law that Facebook failed to warn minors and take measures to block sex trafficking activity on its site.