- Polish billionaire Rafal Brzoska and his wife are planning to sue Meta over false advertisements that appeared on Facebook and Instagram.
- A spokesperson for Meta has clarified that the company removes false advertisements upon discovery and collaborates with local authorities to combat fraudulent activities.
OUR TAKE
Social media platforms are gradually becoming an important channel for people to access information and exchange ideas. However, these platforms are also challenged by disinformation and fraudulent adverts. Most recently, Polish billionaire Rafal Brzoska and his wife are planning to file a lawsuit against Meta over false advertisements that appeared on Facebook and Instagram. The adverts not only violated their right to their personal image, but also misled the public. The incident has reignited public concern over the proliferation of false information on social media platforms, as well as the discussion of the platforms’ regulatory responsibilities.
–Elodie Qian, BTW reporter
What happened
Rafal Brzoska, a Polish billionaire and CEO of the Polish logistics services company InPost, and his wife are set to take legal action against Meta for the appearance of deceptive advertisements on Facebook and Instagram that incorporate his likeness and spread false information about her.
Brzoska has stated that they are yet to determine the jurisdiction in which to file the lawsuit, which will be another attempt worldwide to make the tech giant accountable for ads that persist despite users reporting the issue.
A spokesperson for Meta has clarified that the company removes false advertisements upon discovery and collaborates with local authorities to combat fraudulent activities.
As the founder of the Polish parcel locker company InPost, Brzoska reported the issue to Meta in early July, but no resolution was found.
“We plan to file a private lawsuit against Meta… We have not yet determined in which jurisdictions we will sue Meta. We will decide in the next few weeks,” Brzoska informed Reuters.
Also read: Meta accused of sharing user data with Netflix
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Why it’s important
In an email statement, the Meta spokesperson said, “Scammers use every platform available to them to defraud people and constantly adapt to evade getting caught. Scam content breaks our rules and we remove it when we find it.” The company is currently reviewing the situation.
“We also partner with businesses, local administrations and law enforcement to defeat these committed criminals.”
A number of “fake endorsement” advertisements have reportedly appeared on the Facebook and Instagram recently. The adverts, which feature fake celebrities appealing for investment, have led to some gullible Japanese social media users being swindled out of their money.
Four victims of social network investment fraud from Kobe and Tokyo City filed a claim for compensation of 23 million yen ($156,009) against Meta’s Japanese subsidiary in the United States in April.
Last year, plaintiff former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee filed a lawsuit against Meta, in federal court for the District of Texas. The allegations are that false advertisements on Meta’s platform used his name and image to promote CBD products, which he himself has never endorsed or used. In the case, the plaintiff seeks to recover all money obtained as a result of the unauthorised advertising and seeks punitive damages.
