Controversies
Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.
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2021
Russian court fines Meta Platforms over content removal
Fine or penalty
A Moscow court fined Meta Platforms $27.1 million on the same grounds as Google's fine. Russia's communications watchdog said Facebook and Instagram had failed to remove 2,000 pieces of content that violate Russian laws.
Source excerpt
Russia’s communication watchdog Roskomnadzor said that Facebook and Instagram had failed to remove 2 000 pieces that violate Russian laws, whereas Google keeps 2 600 pieces of banned content.
Later on Friday, the court fined Meta Platforms $27.1m on the same grounds.
2021
Meta files lawsuit over phishing attacks targeting its platforms
Lawsuit filed
Meta filed a federal lawsuit in California court seeking to disrupt phishing attacks that targeted users of Facebook, Messenger, Instagram and WhatsApp. Meta said the campaign used nearly 40,000 websites impersonating the platforms’ login pages to collect users’ credentials.
Stated objective. to disrupt phishing attacks targeting users of Meta’s platforms
Source excerpt
"On these websites, people were prompted to enter their usernames and passwords, which Defendants collected."
Meta (formerly known as Facebook) has filed a federal lawsuit in California court to disrupt phishing attacks targeting Facebook, Messenger, Instagram, and WhatsApp users.
The attackers behind these phishing campaigns used almost 40,000 phishing pages that would impersonate the four platforms' login pages.
2021
Rohingya refugees sue Facebook over alleged conduct during Myanmar genocide
Lawsuit filed
Dozens of Rohingya refugees in the UK and US sued Facebook for US$150 billion, alleging that it amplified hate speech against the Rohingya and failed to invest in content moderators and checkers. The article reports allegations, not a court determination.
Source excerpt
The refugees, through lawyers in the UK and US allege that Facebook, which has recently rebranded to Meta, amplified hate speech towards the Muslim minority group and failed to invest in moderators and checkers.
Facebook is being sued for US$150bn by dozens of Rohingya refugees in the UK and US over its alleged conduct during the Myanmar genocide, which started in 2016.
2021
Leaked Facebook documents raise platform-safety concerns
Issue disclosure
Leaked internal Facebook documents provided insights into the company’s handling of falsehoods, hate and inflammatory content. The article reports that the files suggested warnings about Facebook’s technology repeatedly went unheeded; Facebook rejected the accusation that it prioritized profit over safety and well-being.
Company response
Denial — Facebook
The company has rejected her statements, claiming that it has tens of thousands of employees working on keeping its platforms safe. "At the heart of these accusations is this idea that we prioritize profit over safety and well-being," CEO Mark Zuckerberg said in a statement released on his platform. "That’s just not true."
Source excerpt
The company has rejected her statements, claiming that it has tens of thousands of employees working on keeping its platforms safe. "At the heart of these accusations is this idea that we prioritize profit over safety and well-being," CEO Mark Zuckerberg said in a statement released on his platform. "That’s just not true."
The disclosure of thousands of internal documents, leaked by a former employee to journalists and policymakers, has pushed the U.S. tech giant and the question of how to regulate it back into the spotlight. The files — ranging from research papers to discussion threads on an employee network — paint the picture of a company that prioritizes growth over efforts to stop the spread of falsehoods, hate and inflammatory content on its platforms.
The files unearthed by data scientist Frances Haugen, who left the company in May, provide unprecedented insights into the inner workings of the tech giant. They suggest that, repeatedly, warnings about Facebook's technology fell on deaf ears within the company.
2021
FTC staff investigate Facebook disclosures about platform effects on teens
Investigation
The article reports that Federal Trade Commission staff began investigating disclosures about Facebook's internal research on negative effects of its products, including whether documents indicate that Facebook violated its 2019 settlement with the FTC.
Company response
Clarification — Facebook
Facebook has previously claimed that leaked research documents have been misinterpreted
Source excerpt
staffers at the Federal Trade Commission have begun looking into disclosures that Facebook’s internal research identified negative effects from its products.
Facebook has previously claimed that leaked research documents have been misinterpreted
Officials are reportedly investigating if the Facebook research documents indicate that the company violated a $5 billion settlement it made with the FTC in 2019 over privacy concerns.
2021
CMA investigation into Facebook's Giphy takeover remains ongoing
Investigation
The Competition and Markets Authority said its investigation into Facebook's takeover of Giphy remained ongoing.
Company response
Denial — Facebook
Facebook hit out at the fine in a statement. "We strongly disagree with the CMA's unfair decision to punish Facebook for a best effort compliance approach, which the CMA itself ultimately approved.
Ongoing disclosure — Facebook
"We will review the CMA's decision and consider our options," it added.
Source excerpt
The watchdog also said its investigation into Facebook's takeover of Giphy remains ongoing.
Britain’s competition watchdog fined Facebook $69.4 million Wednesday Oct. 20, 2021, for violating rules during the U.K. investigation into the social media giant’s purchase of Giphy.
The CMA says that Facebook breached the IEO by “consciously refusing to report all the required information,” resulting in a $70 million fine.
2021
Facebook expands protections for journalists and human-rights defenders
Company response
Facebook announced that it would classify activists and journalists as involuntary public figures and expand restrictions on attacks against public figures, aiming to strengthen protections against harassment and bullying.
Stated objective. To strengthen protection for activists and journalists from harassment and bullying.
Company response
Remediation — Facebook
面簿将把维权人士与记者列为“非自愿”公众人物(Public Figure),以加强保护他们免受骚扰与霸凌。
Source excerpt
戴维斯说,面簿也扩大不允许用户对公众人物发动的攻击类型,以减少女性、有色人种与LGBTQ(同性恋、双性恋、跨性别及酷儿)族群面临的诸多攻击。
面簿将把维权人士与记者列为“非自愿”公众人物(Public Figure),以加强保护他们免受骚扰与霸凌。
2021
Instagram teen research findings reported
Issue disclosure
A Wall Street Journal report, which Facebook did not dispute, described internal research finding that Instagram worsened body-image concerns and was blamed by some teenagers for increased anxiety and depression.
Source excerpt
Another slide said teenagers blamed Instagram for increased levels of anxiety and depression
The Wall Street Journal's report, not disputed by Facebook, finds:
The Wall Street Journal said Instagram has had research illustrating this mental stress for two years.
2021
Armslist sues Facebook and Instagram over ban
Lawsuit filed
Armslist sued Facebook and Instagram over their banishment of the site. The lawsuit alleges that Armslist and its sister company were cut off based solely on their politics and support of gun ownership rights.
Source excerpt
The owner of a popular website in the 2A community is suing tech giant Facebook and its subsidiary Instagram over the platforms’ banishment of the site last year.
According to the lawsuit, Gibbon, along with Armslist and Torquelist LLC, a sister company that serves as an internet vehicle parts marketing site, were cut off from the social media sites based solely on their politics and support of gun ownership rights.
2021
Instagram restores posts of film poster and apologizes
Company response
After removing posts showing the Madres Paralelas poster for violating its nudity rules, Instagram said it restored posts sharing the poster under an artistic-context exception and apologized for the confusion.
Company response
Apology — Facebook
We’ve therefore restored posts sharing the Almodóvar movie poster to Instagram, and we’re really sorry for any confusion caused,
Remediation — Facebook
We’ve therefore restored posts sharing the Almodóvar movie poster to Instagram, and we’re really sorry for any confusion caused,
Source excerpt
We've therefore restored posts sharing the Almodóvar movie poster to Instagram, and we´re really sorry for any confusion caused,
Instagram has apologised for removing the official poster for Spanish director Pedro Almodóvar's new film from the social network because it showed a female nipple, after the poster's designer complained of censorship.
We’ve therefore restored posts sharing the Almodóvar movie poster to Instagram, and we’re really sorry for any confusion caused,
2021
Prague court rules it has jurisdiction over King's Resort's lawsuit against Facebook
Ruling
A court in Prague ruled that Czech courts have jurisdiction to handle King's Resort's lawsuit against Facebook. King's Resort claimed Facebook allowed its branding to be used falsely in an online gaming advertisement.
Source excerpt
Czech casino operator King's Resort has won the first round of its lawsuit against Facebook, which claimed that the social media giant allowed King's Resort branding to be used falsely on an online gaming advertisement.
In a win for King’s Resort, a court in Prague has ruled that the Czech courts have jurisdiction to handle the case.
2021
Rhode Island retirement system files lawsuit over Facebook data-privacy scandal
Lawsuit filed
The Employees’ Retirement System of Rhode Island filed a lawsuit against certain Facebook officers and board members, alleging breaches of fiduciary duties related to the Facebook-Cambridge Analytica data-privacy scandal and resulting harm to Facebook and its shareholders.
Source excerpt
In the years leading up to the 2016 Presidential election, Facebook user data was obtained by Cambridge Analytica without users’ consent and then used to promote the campaigns of Donald Trump for President, Ted Cruz for Senate, and the pro-Brexit movement.
this month, the Employees’ Retirement System of Rhode Island filed a lawsuit against certain officers, including co-founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg, and members of the board of directors of Facebook (NYSE: FB) alleging breaches of fiduciary duties pertaining to the Facebook-Cambridge Analytica data-privacy scandal.
2021
Patent complaint filed against Facebook over Oculus VR technology
Lawsuit filed
Gentex Corporation and Indigo Technologies LLC, with Thales Visionix Inc. as an involuntary plaintiff, sued Facebook over alleged unauthorized use of patented virtual-reality and motion-tracking technologies in four Oculus VR products. The complaint seeks a jury trial, declaratory relief and damages; the allegations are not presented as a court determination.
Source excerpt
According to Wednesday’s Western District of Texas complaint, the technologies are used in four of Facebook’s Oculus VR products.
The filing seeks a jury trial, declaratory relief, damages, including enhanced damages for wilfull infringement, and an award of the plaintiffs’ fees and costs.
Three companies, Gentex Corporation, Indigo Technologies LLC, and Thales Visionix Inc., an involuntary plaintiff, have sued Facebook Inc. and Facebook Technologies LLC (together Facebook) for their purported unauthorized and knowing use of the plaintiffs’ patented virtual reality (VR) and motion tracking technologies.
2021
Biden accuses Facebook and other platforms of allowing vaccine misinformation
Issue disclosure
U.S. President Joe Biden accused Facebook and other platforms of allowing COVID-19 vaccine misinformation on their services, saying it was causing deaths. The supplied report attributes the allegation to Biden; Facebook did not respond to a request for comment.
Source excerpt
Facebook没有回应置评请求。
周五(7月16日),美国总统拜登表示,Facebook等平台允许在其服务上发布新冠疫苗错误信息,导致人们死亡。
2021
Facebook responds to Biden's vaccine-misinformation accusation
Company response
Facebook responded to President Joe Biden's accusation that the platform was failing to handle COVID-19 and vaccine misinformation effectively. A Facebook spokesman said the claims would not distract the company and cited the number of people who had read reliable health information on the platform.
Company response
Clarification — Facebook
Soon later, NBC's Dylan Byers obtained a response to Biden's remarks from a Facebook spokesman, who stated that the baseless claims would not distract Facebook.
Source excerpt
Facebook has replied to President Joe Biden's claim that the social media site is "killing people" by failing to effectively handle disinformation regarding Covid-19 and vaccines on its platform.
Soon later, NBC's Dylan Byers obtained a response to Biden's remarks from a Facebook spokesman, who stated that the baseless claims would not distract Facebook. Instead, more than two billion individuals have read reliable information on Covid-19 and vaccines, according to the spokesman, which is more than any other social media site, as per Mediaite.
Facebook on Saturday refuted remarks made by President Joe Biden that social media platforms are "killing people" by allowing Covid vaccine misinformation to proliferate on their services.
2021
Russia fines Facebook and Instagram
Fine or penalty
Russia’s communications regulator said Facebook and Instagram had been fined millions of rubles for failing to remove prohibited content and for non-compliance with Russian data-localization legislation.
Source excerpt
The Federal Service for Supervision of Communications, Information Technology and Mass Media of Russia (known as Roskomnadzor) said on Friday that Facebook and Instagram had been fined millions of rubles for not taking down “prohibited” content online.
“The total amount of fines for not removing prohibited information is 43 million rubles. For non-compliance with the requirements of Russian data localization legislation – 4 million rubles,”
2021
Facebook and Gucci sue over counterfeit goods
Lawsuit filed
Facebook and Gucci jointly filed a lawsuit against the person responsible for an international counterfeit operation that allegedly used Facebook and Instagram to promote and sell products bearing the Gucci brand.
Source excerpt
Facebook现在已经与奢侈时尚品牌Gucci联手,对一个国际造假者提起诉讼。
一家造假企业利用Facebook和Instagram推广和销售带有Gucci品牌的假冒产品,并使用多个不同的账户来规避Facebook的执法政策。
2021
Moscow court fines Facebook and Telegram
Fine or penalty
A Moscow court fined Facebook 17 million rubles and Telegram 10 million rubles for failing to remove banned content, according to the article.
Source excerpt
A Moscow court fined on Thursday social media platform Facebook for 17 million rubles (more than $236,500) and messaging app Telegram for 10 million rubles (over $139,000).
At a hearing in Moscow, the Tagansky city court granted Russia's communications watchdog Roskomnadzor for fining Facebook and Telegram, ruling that the companies did not comply with the legislation to delete content, banned in Russia.
A court in Moscow has fined social media outlets Facebook and Telegram for their “failure” to remove content “banned” by Russian authorities.
2021
Class-action lawsuit alleges Flo Health and advertisers misused sensitive app data
Lawsuit filed
Madeline Kiss filed a putative class-action lawsuit against Flo Health and advertiser defendants, alleging that the companies exchanged confidential information and that Flo Health provided users’ intimate health details to third parties. These are allegations in the complaint, not a court determination.
Source excerpt
On Monday, Madeline Kiss filed a putative class-action lawsuit against Flo Health, Inc., and additional advertiser defendants including Google, LLC, Facebook, Inc., Appsflyer, Inc., and Flurry, Inc. over allegations that the companies conspired to exchange extremely private and confidential information for their own benefit.
The plaintiff alleged that Flo Health violated their own policy by knowingly giving users’ information to third parties including the advertiser defendants.
2021
UK regulator investigates Facebook’s use of advertising data
Investigation
The UK Competition and Markets Authority launched an investigation into whether Facebook’s collection and use of data gives it an unfair advantage in areas including online classified ads and dating.
Source excerpt
The Competition and Markets Authority said in a statement that it is looking into whether Facebook "has gained an unfair advantage over competitors in providing services for online classified ads and online dating, through how it gathers and uses certain data".
Britain's competition watchdog said on Friday it has opened an investigation into Facebook's use of advertiser data as the EU announced a similar probe.
The Competition and Markets Authority has launched an investigation into whether Facebook holds an unfair advantage in areas such as online classified ads and online dating, in the way it gathers and uses data.