Professor Mary Graw Leary of Catholic Law was recently quoted in a Washington Post article titled "He solicited a child on Facebook, even after Meta banned him." The article delves into an undercover investigation by New Mexico authorities, which exposed how predators continue to exploit social media platforms like Facebook, despite measures taken by companies like Meta to ban offenders. Graw Leary, an expert on the risks children face online, pointed out that while child protection measures are deeply embedded in the physical world to limit offenders' access to children, the same safeguards are glaringly absent in the digital realm. “In the digital world in America, it seems that is not in place,” she remarked, emphasizing the vulnerability of children in online spaces.

The New Mexico case, along with similar cases progressing through the courts, could mark a turning point in holding tech companies accountable. However, Graw Leary cautioned that meaningful change would require significant consequences for these companies, given their immense resources and influence. “When they engage in that cost-benefit analysis, it’s going to have to be a significant cost,” she explained, underscoring the need for hefty penalties to compel tech giants to prioritize child safety. The investigation and its implications highlight the urgent need for stronger regulations to bridge the gap between offline and online child protection measures.