Meta Platforms (Facebook & Instagram) Caught Lying About The Number of Real Users To Advertisers

Courts Rule They Can Be Sued for Misrepresentation (a.k.a. Fraud)

Authors:
•  SCARS Editorial Team – Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.
•  By Jonathan Stempel, Reuters

About This Article

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in a 2-1 decision that Meta Platforms, owner of Facebook and Instagram, must face a class-action lawsuit filed by advertisers. The lawsuit alleges Meta overcharged advertisers by fraudulently inflating the potential reach of their ads, using metrics based on social media accounts rather than actual people, leading to potential viewer overestimations of up to 400%.

While the court allowed advertisers to sue for damages as a group, it decertified a separate class seeking injunctive relief. Advertisers estimate Meta may owe over $7 billion in damages. Meta, with ads generating most of its revenue, has yet to comment.

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