Meta profited from illegal scam ads, California county lawsuit alleges
4 hours ago
- #Scam Ads
- #Lawsuit
- #Meta Platforms
- Santa Clara County sues Meta for profiting from scam ads on Facebook and Instagram, violating California's false advertising and unfair business practices laws.
- The lawsuit, representing all California residents, alleges Meta earned up to $7 billion annually from 'high-risk' fraudulent ads and tolerated misconduct to protect revenue.
- Meta defends itself, claiming the lawsuit misrepresents its motives and that it actively combats scams on and off its platforms.
- The complaint accuses Meta of aiding fraud by allowing protected ad accounts, targeting vulnerable users, and using AI to create scam ads, while deceiving the public about its anti-scam efforts.
- Santa Clara County is collaborating with three external law firms on a contingency basis, retaining full control over the case.