Illegal Gold Mining Influencers in the Amazon Gather Thousands of Followers and Boast About Their Activities
Meta, owner of Facebook, remains silent, and other mentioned parties could not be reached; the Federal Prosecutor's Office and Federal Police are investigating the platform and those responsible for the posts
Feb.11.2025 3:47PM
José Marques
João Gabriel
Brasília
"As my grandpa used to say: the best accessory is gold, the best car is a Toyota, and the best investment is illegal gold mining," reads a post from one of the social media accounts that promote illegal gold mining in the Amazon, provide tips on how to evade government inspections, and even teach how to produce mercury.
Personal pages and groups used for these activities have become the target of an investigation by the Federal Prosecutor's Office in Amazonas, which questions why Meta —owner of Facebook and Instagram— allows these accounts to remain active.
Images of social media profiles reproduced in a Federal Prosecutor's Office investigation on illegal mining.- (Foto: Reprodução) - Reprodução
When contacted by Folha through its press office, the platform did not respond. The other parties mentioned in the investigation could not be reached.
More:
https://www1.folha.uol.com.br/internacional/en/brazil/2025/02/illegal-gold-mining-influencers-in-the-amazon-gather-thousands-of-followers-and-boast-about-their-activities.shtml
Meta is assisting people who intend to destroy what's left of the one and only Amazon "Lungs of the Earth" tropical forest.