• Trump's transition team has engaged five tech giants, including Google, Microsoft, and Meta Platforms, to discuss online drug sales.
• The move is part of Trump's broader strategy to combat the flow of fentanyl into the U.S. Tech companies' role in enabling illegal drug sales has been under scrutiny, with Meta and eBay facing investigations.
• Trump's approach includes direct engagement with tech companies, increased regulatory pressure, public awareness campaigns, and potential tariff threats.

In a recent development, President-elect Donald Trump's transition team has reached out to five major tech companies, including Google, Microsoft, and Meta Platforms. The team has invited these tech giants to a mid-December meeting to discuss the issue of online drug sales, reports said citing a person with direct knowledge of the correspondence.

The transition team, represented by Jim Carroll, the drug czar during Trump's first term, sent out emails to staffers from these tech giants, as well as those from Snap and TikTok. The objective of the meeting is to understand the companies' priorities and any barriers they face in addressing the issue of online drug sales.

This move comes as part of Trump's broader strategy to combat the flow of fentanyl into the U.S. from Mexico. Fentanyl, a potent synthetic opioid, has been linked to hundreds of thousands of deaths in the U.S.

Trump's Strategy to Curb Fentanyl Trafficking

Trump has threatened to impose steep tariffs on goods from Mexico and Canada unless these countries take measures to curb fentanyl trafficking and illegal migration. In addition to these measures, Trump has also announced plans to launch a large-scale U.S. advertising campaign to educate people about the dangers of fentanyl use. This announcement was made in a post on Truth Social, a social media platform launched by Trump.

The tech companies' role in enabling illegal drug sales has been under scrutiny for some time now. Earlier this year, U.S. prosecutors launched an investigation into Meta's role in the sale and distribution of drugs on its platforms, Facebook and Instagram.

Similarly, eBay agreed to pay $59 million to resolve allegations by the U.S. Department of Justice that it failed to prevent the sale of devices used to manufacture counterfeit drugs, including pills laced with fentanyl.

Analysts suggest that Trump's stance could lead to increased regulatory pressure on tech firms, especially if investigations uncover negligence in monitoring illegal activities. Social media users have voiced mixed reactions to these high-stakes discussions.

Uncertainty Over Antitrust Enforcement

In the past, the Trump administration has shown a keen interest in promoting artificial intelligence (AI). In 2019, Trump signed the American AI Initiative executive order, pledging to double AI research investment and establishing the first set of national AI research institutes.

However, the new administration's approach to antitrust enforcement remains uncertain. Some legal experts believe that the Republican Party's populist stance may not necessarily translate into leniency towards big businesses.