River Bend Times

U.S. Representatives Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA) and Angie Craig (D-MN) have introduced bipartisan legislation aimed at curbing drug trafficking on social media platforms. The Cooper Davis and Devin Norring Act, named after two teenagers who died from fentanyl poisoning, mandates that social media companies and other communication service providers alert federal law enforcement when illicit drug dealing is detected on their platforms.

Devin Norring of Hastings, MN, and Cooper Davis of Shawnee, KS, both lost their lives after purchasing what they believed to be Percocet pills on Snapchat. The pills were found to be laced with fentanyl.

“Fentanyl is a plague in our communities, killing countless Americans and destroying their families,” said Rep. Miller-Meeks. “The Cooper Davis and Devin Norring Act would help law enforcement at all levels counter the sale of fentanyl and fentanyl-laced pills and help prosecute those preying on America's youth.”

Rep. Craig emphasized the urgency of the issue: “The fact that this bill is needed at all is devastating, but we must fight back against the fentanyl crisis with every tool at our disposal, and that’s what our bill accomplishes.”

According to data from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), approximately one in three instances of illicit drug trafficking are linked to social media platforms such as Snapchat, Facebook Messenger, Instagram, and TikTok.

Bridgette Norring, mother of Devin Norring, criticized social media companies for their lack of action: “In the years since Cooper and Devin lost their lives to drug dealers operating on social media, we've heard the same canned response from social media companies that they're aware of the problem and are working to correct it. However, they've done nothing to put a stop to these dealers targeting our children.”

Libby Davis, mother of Cooper Davis, highlighted the responsibility that comes with technological power: “Social media company platforms have great power and influence over the American people, especially our youth... With this power and intelligence comes great responsibility. However, social media companies are failing at keeping our kids safe.”

The bill also has support from Reps. Kim Schrier (D-WA), Dan Crenshaw (R-TX), Don Davis (D-NC), and Jake LaTurner (R-KS), who are original co-sponsors.

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