Coded emojis facilitate dark web drug trade – lawmaker

MANILA, Philippines — The lucrative illegal drug industry has leveled up operations with innovations using digital technology, as social media entices more followers to the illegal trade.

Las Piñas Rep. Mark Anthony Santos, chairman of the dangerous drugs committee of the House of Representatives, cited studies showing how social media platforms have been used to facilitate illegal drug transactions.

He said Instagram has “emerged as a significant platform for online drug trafficking,” with experienced users reportedly able to locate dealers through seemingly ordinary posts, accounts and interactions.

“Social media has made it possible for drug dealers to operate in plain sight. They can use coded words, images, emojis and seemingly harmless posts to advertise illegal drugs while trying to evade the platforms’ detection systems,” he observed.

According to Santos, drug dealers have also used emojis as coded advertisements for illegal drugs – for example, using symbols or images associated with particular drugs to avoid automated content filters.

Santos said such tactics demonstrate the difficulty of relying solely on automated moderation to prevent online drug trafficking.