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Controversies

Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.

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  1. 2026

    Meta's Oversight Board orders the company to remove deepfake videos from Facebook

    Ruling

    Meta's Oversight Board has ordered the company to remove deepfake videos from Facebook. The decision, reported as a controversy note, concerns the platform's handling of manipulated media. The Oversight Board's order directs Meta to take down the deepfake videos from Facebook. No further details about the specific videos, the parties involved, or the outcome of the removal were provided in the source.

    Source excerpt

    • Meta’s Oversight Board Orders the Company to Remove Deepfake Videos From Facebook
  2. 2026

    Bank Leumi sues Meta over scam ads

    Lawsuit filed

    Bank Leumi filed a lawsuit against Meta in Tel Aviv District Court, seeking NIS 26.6 million. The bank alleges that fraudulent advertisements impersonating it on Facebook and Instagram are used to steal customers' sensitive information and access their accounts. It further claims that Meta's screening and monitoring systems are insufficient to detect and prevent these scams.

    Bank Leumi filed a NIS 26.6 million lawsuit against Meta in Tel Aviv District Court, alleging that fraudulent advertisements impersonating the bank on Facebook and Instagram are used to steal customers' sensitive information and access their accounts, and that Meta's screening and monitoring systems are insufficient to detect and prevent the scams.

    Source excerpt

    • Bank Leumi has filed a NIS 26.6 million lawsuit against Meta in Tel Aviv District Court, alleging that fraudulent advertisements impersonating the bank on Facebook and Instagram are being used to steal customers’ sensitive information and access their accounts.
    • The bank claims Meta’s screening and monitoring systems are insufficient to detect and prevent the scams before they reach users.
    • The fraudulent advertisements allegedly use Bank Leumi’s name and trademarks without authorization while offering fake promotions, including shopping vouchers and vehicle raffles.
  3. 2026

    New Mexico court orders Meta to pay $567 million

    Fine or penalty

    A New Mexico court ordered Meta Platforms to pay $567 million over alleged harms to young users on its Facebook and Instagram platforms. The order followed a March jury verdict finding that Meta knowingly harmed children's mental health and concealed information related to child sexual exploitation on its platforms.

    Stated objective. The court directed $420 million toward treatment services for young people; remaining funds were reported to be for awareness and prevention programmes, screening services and related costs.

    Source excerpt

    • The ruling that was issued by Judge Bryan Biedscheid in the second phase of a landmark trial directed $420 million of the amount to be used for treatment services for young people.
    • The order follows a March jury verdict that imposed $375 million in civil penalties on Meta after finding that the company knowingly harmed children's mental health and concealed information related to child sexual exploitation on its platforms.
    • A New Mexico court has ordered Meta Platforms to pay $567 million over alleged harms to young users on Facebook and Instagram.
  4. 2026

    New Mexico judge orders Meta to pay $25 billion

    Fine or penalty

    A New Mexico judge ordered Meta to pay $25 billion after a jury found that the company had made misleading statements to consumers. The case concerned allegations that data from Facebook users was obtained without their consent; the jury found that 26 of 29 statements were misleading and that Meta committed more than 43 million violations of state consumer protection laws.

    Source excerpt

    • Mathew found that a penalty of more than $US219 billion ($A311 billion) was warranted, based on state law, but he reduced the figure to $US25 billion ($A36 billion).
    • A judge in New Mexico has ordered Meta Platforms to cough up after a jury found the company had misled consumers in a case arising from allegations that a political consulting firm involved in Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign obtained data from millions of Facebook users without their consent.
    • Jurors on September 25 found that 26 of 29 statements made by the company and its leadership on those issues were misleading. They said the company had committed more than 43 million violations of New Mexico's consumer protection laws, based on the number of Facebook users or New Mexico residents who were the audience for each misleading statement.
  5. 2026

    Class action filed against Meta over alleged harm to children

    Lawsuit filed

    A class action was filed in an Australian court against Meta Platforms' Facebook and Instagram. The plaintiffs allege the platforms exposed children to harmful content and used algorithms that kept them addictive; they are seeking compensation.

    Company response

    • Denial — Meta Platforms Inc.

      A Meta Platform Inc. spokesperson said in a short statement that the Texas lawsuit’s claims are without merit, and the company will defend itself vigorously.
    • Denial — Meta Platforms Inc

      In a statement, Meta Platforms Inc, which is based in Melo Park, California, called the lawsuit “without merit”.

    Source excerpt

    • The lawsuit, filed in the Federal Court, Australia’s second-highest, by law firm MinterEllison this month, could be the first in Australia to blame social media for harming its users, particularly children and teenagers.
    • A class action lawsuit has been filed in an Australia court against Meta Platforms’ Facebook and Instagram, alleging the social media platforms exposed children to harmful content and kept them addictive through algorithms.
    • The class action suit has been filed on behalf of eight plaintiffs, who allege they were harmed by Meta while they were under the age of 18, and are seeking compensation.
  6. 2026

    Meta settles with teen plaintiff

    Settlement

    Meta reached a settlement with a teenage plaintiff who had accused the company of designing Instagram and Facebook to be addictive and of harming young people's well-being. The settlement was reported by the plaintiff's attorneys. The dispute centered on allegations about how the platforms were designed and their effect on younger users. The reported agreement resolved the matter between Meta and the teen plaintiff; the source account does not specify the settlement terms, the identity of the plaintiff, or further details of the outcome.

    Meta settled with a teen plaintiff who had accused the company of designing Instagram and Facebook to be addictive and harming young people's well-being. The settlement was reported by the plaintiff's attorneys.

    Source excerpt

    • On Friday, Meta Platforms settled with a teen plaintiff who accused the company of designing Instagram and Facebook to be addictive, fostering a decline in mental well-being and disordered nutritional patterns, according to attorneys for the plaintiff.
  7. 2026

    Meta discloses action against 33.2 million pieces of child sexual exploitation content in H1 2026

    Issue disclosure

    Meta announced on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, that it took action against 33.2 million pieces of child sexual exploitation content on Facebook and Instagram in the first half of 2026. According to the announcement, more than 97% of that content was found by its systems before users reported it. In India, Meta acted on 5.3 million pieces during the same period, with more than 98% detected before user reports.

    Company response

    • Remediation — Meta

    Source excerpt

    • More than 97% of the content Meta acted on was found by its systems before users reported it, the company said.
    • Meta announced Wednesday that it took action against 33.2 million pieces of child sexual exploitation content on Facebook and Instagram in the first half of 2026.
    • In India, Meta acted on 5.3 million pieces of child sexual exploitation content during the same period, with more than 98% detected before users reported it.
  8. 2022

    Meta clarifies it has no plan to exit Europe

    Company response

    In February 2022, after a report by Meta prompted widespread coverage, the company stated that it had no plan to withdraw from the European market. Meta said it was seeking a solution for transferring users' personal data between the European Union and the United States. The clarification followed the broad reporting of the report's contents, and the company's statement addressed the question of a possible exit from Europe while describing its efforts regarding cross-border data transfers.

    After its report prompted widespread coverage, Meta said it had no plan to withdraw from the European market and was seeking a solution for transferring users’ personal data between the EU and the US.

    Stated objective. To find a solution for transferring users’ personal data between the EU and the US.

    Company response

    • Clarification — Meta

      表示絕對沒有計劃撤出歐洲市場,只是希望尋求解決方案讓用戶個人數據能夠在歐盟和美國之間傳送。

    Source excerpt

    • 在報告內容被廣泛報導後改口,表示絕對沒有計劃撤出歐洲市場,只是希望尋求解決方案讓用戶個人數據能夠在歐盟和美國之間傳送。
  9. 2022

    Andrew Forrest brings criminal case against Facebook over scam ads

    Lawsuit filed

    Andrew Forrest brought a criminal case against Facebook in the Western Australia Magistrates Court, alleging that the platform breached federal anti-money-laundering laws by not sufficiently cracking down on scam ads. Meta, the company behind Facebook, said it takes a multifaceted approach to stop such ads. The case concerns the handling of scam advertisements on the platform and the allegation of insufficient enforcement against them.

    Company response

    • Clarification — Meta

      Meta told Nine: “We take a multifaceted approach to stop these ads. We work not just to detect and reject the ads themselves but also block advertisers from our services and, in some cases, take court action to enforce our policies.”

    Source excerpt

    • Forrest, Australia’s richest man and chairman of Fortescue Metals Group, said he was taking the action to stop people losing money to clickbait advertising scams, such as ones using his image to promote cryptocurrency schemes.
    • Iron ore magnate Andrew Forrest said on Thursday he is launching criminal proceedings against Meta Platform Facebook in an Australian court, alleging that it breached anti-money laundering laws and its platform is used to scam Australians.
    • The action in the Western Australia Magistrates Court is the first time the tech giant has faced criminal charges anywhere in the world.
  10. 2022

    Meta sues fake engagement service provider

    Lawsuit filed

    Meta filed a lawsuit against Chad Taylor Cowan, alleging that he provided fake reviews and feedback to artificially increase Facebook Customer Feedback Scores and evade enforcement against misleading ads. Meta is seeking damages and injunctive relief.

    Stated objective. To obtain damages and injunctive relief and stop fake reviews on Meta's technologies.

    Source excerpt

    • Through this lawsuit, Meta is seeking damages and injunctive relief for Cowan's violation of its Terms and Policies, and to stop fake reviews on its technologies.
    • Meta (formerly Facebook) has filed a lawsuit against Chad Taylor Cowan for providing a fake engagement service directed at Facebook.
  11. 2022

    Meta fined over Facebook data-breach record-keeping

    Fine or penalty

    Ireland’s Data Protection Commission fined Meta €17 million over historical data breaches. The regulator found that Meta failed to have appropriate measures in place to readily demonstrate security measures protecting EU users’ data.

    Company response

    • Clarification — Meta

      This fine is about record keeping practices from 2018 that we have since updated, not a failure to protect people’s information.

    Source excerpt

    • Facebook’s parent company, Meta, has been fined €17 million (~$18.6 million) by the Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC) over a string of historical data breaches.
    • As a result of its inquiry, the DPC found that Meta Platforms infringed Articles 5(2) and 24(1) GDPR.
    • The details of all 12 security lapses Facebook ‘fessed up to over the six-month period of 2018 are not listed by the DPC in its announcement of the sanction — but in
  12. 2022

    Facebook agrees to $90 million privacy lawsuit settlement

    Settlement

    Facebook reached a $90 million settlement in a privacy lawsuit over collecting information about users who visited third-party websites while logged out. The article says the settlement remained subject to court approval and included setting aside and deleting data collected during the covered period.

    Company response

    • Remediation — Facebook

      Facebook forced to "sequester and delete" personal data collected during the period.

    Source excerpt

    • If the court approves the settlement, this long-running privacy lawsuit will finally be put to bed with $90 million (after the usual legal expenses) being parceled out to eligible users
    • Facebook had told users that it would not track their visits to third-party sites when they were logged out of the service, but continued to do so when these sites in its extended ecosystem were visited.
    • Facebook came to the negotiating table with the parties and hammered out the eventual $90 million penalty.
  13. 2022

    Meta agrees to $90 million settlement in Facebook tracking lawsuit

    Settlement

    Meta agreed to pay $90 million to settle a class action lawsuit accusing Facebook of tracking users online after they signed out. The settlement was pending approval by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.

    Company response

    • Remediation — Meta

      As part of the settlement, Meta will also sequester and remove all of the data involved in this case.

    Source excerpt

    • Facebook's parent company, Meta, has agreed to pay $90 million to settle a decade-old privacy suit.
    • The company has agreed to settle the class action suit filed back in 2012, accusing Facebook of tracking users on the web even after they signed out of their accounts across various platforms, including Android phones and PCs.
    • The lawsuit is pending approval by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.
  14. 2022

    Meta apologizes for Facebook account restrictions and restores post

    Company response

    Meta apologized after Facebook restricted and threatened to remove Hillel Neuer’s account. Meta said the post had been removed in error and restored, and that restrictions on the page had been removed.

    Company response

    • Apology — Meta

      On Tuesday, Meta apologized for the removal of the post and the restrictions placed on Neuer's page, saying that the situation had been remedied.
    • Remediation — Meta

      We have also removed the restrictions on this Page, and have apologized to Hillel Neuer for the inconvenience caused.”

    Source excerpt

    • On Tuesday, Meta apologized for the removal of the post and the restrictions placed on Neuer's page, saying that the situation had been remedied.
    • We have also removed the restrictions on this Page, and have apologized to Hillel Neuer for the inconvenience caused.”
    • Meta, the parent company of Facebook, apologized on Tuesday after restricting and threatening to remove the Facebook account of Hillel Neuer, the executive director of the NGO UN Watch.
  15. 2022

    CNIL fines Facebook and Google over cookie consent

    Fine or penalty

    France’s data protection regulator, CNIL, fined Google and Facebook a combined €210 million for failing to provide users with an equally easy way to reject tracking cookies. CNIL also ordered the companies to provide a simpler refusal method within three months.

    Source excerpt

    • Last week, the French data protection regulator (CNIL) said it has fined Google and Meta-owned Facebook platform a combined €210 million for failing to comply with the country’s data protection act – specifically, for not giving users an easy way to reject tracking cookies.
    • The privacy watchdog also ordered the companies to fix the issues within three months, or risk paying a penalty of €100,000 per day of delay.
  16. 2022

    Meta sued over alleged role in federal officer's murder

    Lawsuit filed

    Angela Underwood Jacobs sued Meta, alleging that Facebook connected the two men charged in the 2020 shooting and helped them plan the attack through its groups infrastructure and engagement-focused algorithms. Meta said the claims were without legal basis. The source does not establish when the complaint was filed.

    Company response

    • Denial — Meta

      A Meta spokesperson told the The New York Times that the "claims are without legal basis,"

    Source excerpt

    • Facebook parent company Meta is being sued by the sister of a federal security guard who was killed in a drive-by shooting in 2020.
    • The suit claims that the social network was responsible for connecting the two individuals charged in the incident and helping them plan the attack.
    • A Meta spokesperson told the The New York Times that the "claims are without legal basis,"
  17. 2022

    Lawsuit filed against Facebook over officer’s death

    Lawsuit filed

    The sister of federal officer Dave Patrick Underwood sued Facebook, alleging that the platform helped connect and promote content to people who planned and carried out his killing. She is seeking $25,000 in damages; these are allegations in the lawsuit.

    Source excerpt

    • Now, Underwood's sister is suing the social media company, blaming it for her brother's death.
    • The lawsuit claims that Carrillo and Robert Alvin Justus Jr., who is accused of driving the vehicle when Carrillo allegedly opened fire on Underwood, used Facebook to plan their attack and even boasted about their plans online.
  18. 2022

    Wrongful-death lawsuit over Facebook platform allegations

    Lawsuit filed

    The sister of slain officer David Patrick Underwood filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against Meta, Facebook’s parent company, alleging that Facebook promoted inflammatory and violent content and connected extremists accused of plotting the killing.

    Company response

    • Denial — Meta

      These claims are without legal basis
    • Remediation — Meta

      We’ve banned more than 1,000 militarized social movements from our platform and work closely with experts to address the broader issue of internet radicalization.

    Source excerpt

    • We’ve banned more than 1,000 militarized social movements from our platform and work closely with experts to address the broader issue of internet radicalization.
    • The wrongful death lawsuit against Facebook’s parent company Meta was filed Thursday in Alameda County Superior Court.
    • These claims are without legal basis
  19. 2022

    CNIL fines Google and Facebook over cookie policies

    Fine or penalty

    France’s data regulator, the CNIL, fined Google €150 million and Facebook €60 million over cookie policies that it said made refusing tracking cookies more difficult than accepting them. Google said it would make further changes and work with the CNIL; Meta said it was reviewing the decision and remained committed to working with authorities.

    Company response

    • Ongoing disclosure — Google

      A Google spokesperson said the company is committing to “further changes and active work with the CNIL”
    • Ongoing disclosure — Meta

      a spokesperson for Facebook parent company Meta said it is reviewing the decision and remains “committed to working with relevant authorities”
    • Remediation — Google

    Source excerpt

    • A Google spokesperson said the company is committing to “further changes and active work with the CNIL”, while a spokesperson for Facebook parent company Meta said it is reviewing the decision and remains “committed to working with relevant authorities”.
    • France’s data regulator has fined Google €150m and Facebook €60m over their cookie policies.
    • The CNIL said today (6 January) that the websites Facebook.com, Google.fr and YouTube.com do not allow users to refuse tracking cookies as easily as accepting them.
  20. 2022

    French regulator fines Meta over cookie tracking

    Fine or penalty

    France's data protection regulator CNIL fined Meta Platforms €60 million, saying users found it difficult to refuse cookie tracking. Facebook's Ireland department was also fined €60 million. The companies were required to provide French internet users with an easier way to refuse tracking and obtain consent before tracking.

    Source excerpt

    • 法国数据监管机构CNIL对Meta Platforms罚款6000万欧元,对谷歌罚款1.5亿欧元,理由是用户难以摆脱Cookie的在线追踪。
    • 对 Facebook 的爱尔兰部门处以 6000 万欧元的罚款。
    • 措施包括,谷歌和Facebook有义务为法国互联网用户提供拒绝Cookie追踪的更简单工具,以确保追踪前得到用户的同意。决定适用于谷歌旗下的法国网站google.fr 和 youtube.fr 以及 Facebook 旗下的法国平台。