Meta, Facebook’s parent company, is reportedly being investigated by the federal government for its role in illicit drug sales on its platforms. In a Federal grand jury subpoena obtained by ABC News, federa prosecutors are claiming tht companies like Meta are not doing enough to stop the sale of illegal drugs.
The Department of Justice has requested that all records showing any drug content on Meta’s platforms that may have violated federal law, specifically focusing on the illicit sale of drugs. Authorities are concerned about the victims of illicit drug sales coupled the promotion of opioid use through online advertising.
Meta released a statement saying that the sale of illicit drugs is against their policies and they are working to remove such content from their services. The company also stated that they are cooperating with law enforcement officials to combat illicit drug sales, emphasizing the need for everyone to play a part in addressing this issue.
On Dec. 16, The Notorious B.I.G. Sky’s The Limit: A VR Concert Experience, produced by Meta in collaboration with The Notorious B.I.G. estate, will honor the life and legacy of the late music legend Biggie during the year that would have been his 50th birthday.
In a virtual replica of 1990s Brooklyn, the immersive VR event will feature performances by a hyper-realistic Biggie avatar accompanied by the avatar of longtime friend and partner Sean “Diddy” Combs (The Brook).
The Lox, Latto, Nardo Wick, Lil’ Cease, and DJ Clark Kent will all make special appearances in the narrative concert adventure, which was written and spoken by novelist and music journalist Touré. It will feature beloved Biggie songs from his discography as well as previously unheard material.
Ms. Voletta Wallace, Christopher Wallace’s mother, stated, “Having the ability to create a variance of new opportunity to showcase my son Christopher’s music through the advancement of technology is hard for me to grasp at times, however, I’ve found so much excitement in the process of developing his avatar, understanding the value added for fans to experience him in ways unattainable till now. Thank you to all who have contributed to bringing this project to fruition.”
“Biggie’s music has been streamed over 11 billion times worldwide and 6.5 billion in the US alone, but because of his untimely death there just wasn’t enough content to support the overwhelming demand for his music. This is why I originated the idea and came up with the decision to create a digital avatar,” says Elliot Osagie, founder of Willingie, who spearheaded the technology innovation development with VFX director Remington Scott, CEO of Hyperreal.
Biggie’s Manager, Mark Pitts, President of RCA Records, stated, “It’s amazing to create new content for BIG. The world was robbed of an opportunity to watch Biggie grow and evolve as an artist. The wonder of Web3 is that it gives us an opportunity to celebrate his music with visuals that Biggie never got to make.”
“Biggie’s untimely death, similar to that of Kurt Cobain and Tupac, was a seminal moment in my prior gig at MTV,” said Van Toffler, CEO, Gunpowder & Sky. “So, having the opportunity to be part of his rebirth in the virtual world – coupling the latest avatar & motion capture technologies with the best music & storytelling – is a dream come to life. Biggie’s impact on music & culture will never have an expiration date.”
