Lawmakers ask Facebook to remove pages ‘exploiting Newtown victims’

Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Chris Murphy (D-CT), along with Rep. Elizabeth Esty (D-CT) sent a letter to Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg requesting he “remove pages that have been used to harass or exploit the families of Newtown victims.”

They have been in contact with “grieving Newtown families” whose personal requests to Facebook have gone unanswered. The letter cites over 100 tribute pages the lawmakers say could be used to harass victims’ families or profit financially from the tragedy. “Many give the appearance they were created by loved ones in the names of the victims. Unfortunately, many of these pages have become vehicles for harassment, intimidation and possibly financial fraud,” the letter reads in part. “Pages providing platforms for people to violate the privacy of families as they grieve, or seek financial gain through soliciting donations under false pretenses, or generating Facebook ‘likes’ for marketing purposes, should not be given quarter in the Facebook community.”