Controversies
Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.
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2026
Bank Leumi sues Meta for NIS 26.6 million 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.
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.
2026
Meta apologizes for suspending the No Kings Instagram account
Company response
Meta apologized after the Instagram account "No Kings" was suspended. According to the company, the suspension was caused by a high increase in bot traffic. Meta stated that it apologized for the suspension and attributed it to that surge in automated activity. The event concerns the suspension of the "No Kings" Instagram account and Meta's subsequent apology, with the company's explanation centering on a significant rise in bot traffic as the cause.
Meta apologized for suspending the “No Kings” Instagram account and said the suspension was caused by a high increase in bot traffic.
Company response
Apology — Meta
Meta apologized Sunday for suspending the "No Kings" Instagram account
Source excerpt
Facebook's parent company Meta apologized Sunday for suspending the "No Kings" Instagram account, saying the suspension was caused by a high increase in traffic by bots.
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.
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.
2026
Meta settles with teen plaintiff
Settlement
Meta settled with a teen 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 event was noted in connection with a trial examining social media's impact on mental health.
Company response
Clarification — Snap
In a statement, Snap said it couldn't comment on the specifics of an active case but told Insider "nothing is more important to us than the wellbeing of our community."
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.
In a statement, Snap said it couldn't comment on the specifics of an active case but told Insider "nothing is more important to us than the wellbeing of our community."
The complaint, filed by Tammy Rodriguez in San Francisco federal court earlier this week, claims Selena Rodriguez suffered from depression, sleep deprivation, eating disorders, and self-harm tied to her use of Instagram and Snapchat.
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.
2022
Minors’ data privacy enforcement
Ireland’s Data Protection Commission fined Instagram over the handling of children’s personal data, making the service’s treatment of minors a significant European privacy issue.
2022
Texas sues Meta over biometric data collection
Lawsuit filed
In February 2022, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit alleging that Meta collected and stored Texans' biometric identifiers for commercial purposes without informed consent. Meta responded by calling the lawsuit "without merit." The allegations are presented as claims in a filed lawsuit and are not presented as a court determination. The dispute concerns Meta's handling of biometric data and the consent practices at issue in the filing.
Company response
Denial — Meta Platforms Inc
In a statement, Meta Platforms Inc, which is based in Melo Park, California, called the lawsuit “without merit”.
Source excerpt
In a statement, Meta Platforms Inc, which is based in Melo Park, California, called the lawsuit “without merit”.
Attorney General Ken Paxton filed the lawsuit Monday in state district court, claiming Meta has been “storing millions of biometric identifiers” — identified as retina or iris scans, voiceprints, or a record of hand and face geometry — contained in photos and videos people upload to its services, including Facebook and Instagram.
Facebook denies the allegations and has stated that it will vigorously defend the suit.
2022
Meta clarifies it has no plan to exit Europe
Company response
In February 2022, after a report prompted widespread coverage, Meta stated that it had no plan to withdraw from the European market. The company 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. Meta's statement addressed the question of a possible exit from Europe and described its effort to find a way to move user personal data between the EU and the US.
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。
2022
WeedTube launches petition seeking changes to Instagram guidelines
Public backlash
WeedTube launched a petition demanding that Instagram end what the petition describes as strict censorship of cannabis-related content and update its Community Guidelines to treat legally operating cannabis businesses equally.
Stated objective. The petition seeks one million signatures and calls for Instagram to update its Community Guidelines and host a roundtable with cannabis industry leaders.
Source excerpt
is launching a WeedTube to gain 1,000,000 signatures to demand that Instagram end its strict censorship of cannabis-related content and update its Community Guidelines to treat all legally operating cannabis businesses equally.
2022
Family files lawsuit against Instagram over teen’s incarceration
Lawsuit filed
A teen and her family filed a lawsuit against Instagram and a school, alleging that Instagram refused to promptly provide information or cooperate with investigating officers after a classmate used the teen’s information to create an account and send threats.
Source excerpt
A teen and her family have filed a lawsuit against a school and Instagram for their role in the incarceration of the minor who committed no crime.
It also states Instagram refused to promptly provide or cooperate with the investigating officers which resulted in a 13 year old Black girl being placed in handcuffs and carted away to imprisonment.
2022
Meta loses bid to dismiss FTC antitrust lawsuit
Ruling
Meta lost its attempt to dismiss a US Federal Trade Commission antitrust lawsuit that could require the company to sell WhatsApp and Instagram.
Source excerpt
Meta has lost an attempt to dismiss a US Federal Trade Commission antitrust lawsuit which could force the company to sell WhatsApp and Instagram.
2021
Teen mental-health and platform-design criticism
Instagram faced intensified public and regulatory criticism over alleged links between platform design, image-based comparison, and negative mental-health outcomes for teenagers.
2021
Instagram among platforms restricting Trump content after Capitol attack
Company response
Following the Capitol attack, several social media platforms restricted Donald Trump's content. Twitter locked his account and required the removal of three tweets. Facebook removed his video and blocked him from posting for 24 hours, while Instagram locked his account for the same period. YouTube also removed the video. The reporting noted calls for the platforms to take stronger action over posts linked to violence and false election claims.
After the Capitol attack, Twitter locked Donald Trump's account and required removal of three tweets; Facebook removed his video and blocked him from posting for 24 hours, Instagram locked his account for the same period, and YouTube removed the video. The article also reported calls for the platforms to take stronger action over posts linked to violence and false election claims.
Source excerpt
Facebook and Google-owned YouTube pulled down the video.
Facebook also removed a video the president had posted for “ expressing support for the people causing the violence,” according to a note from Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg that was tweeted out by a New York Times reporter. Facebook also blocked the president from posting to his page for 24 hours, according to the Times. Facebook-owned Instagram also locked the president’s account for the same period of time.
Trump has been using Twitter and Facebook to push baseless claims about election fraud to his millions of followers.
2021
Shannon Beador sues Facebook over alleged commercial use of her image
Lawsuit filed
Shannon Storms Beador filed court papers against Facebook Inc., alleging that diet-supplement sellers used her image on Facebook and Instagram without permission, misleading consumers into believing she endorsed the products. The suit also names unnamed defendants and seeks unspecified damages.
Source excerpt
The still-unofficial Los Angeles Superior Court lawsuit seeks unspecified damages from Facebook and unnamed “Doe'' defendants for alleged violations of the state Business and Professions Code.
Shannon Beador is taking Instagram and its parent site Facebook to court over unauthorized ads using her likeness on the platforms.
2021
Russia fines Facebook and Instagram
Fine or penalty
In June 2021, Russia's communications regulator stated that Facebook and Instagram had been fined millions of rubles. According to the regulator, the fines were imposed for failing to remove prohibited content and for non-compliance with Russian data-localization legislation. The statement addressed both platforms together and identified these two grounds for the penalties. The regulator's announcement did not specify the exact amount of the fines beyond describing them as amounting to millions of rubles, nor did it detail any further enforcement measures.
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 responds to reports criticizing user safety and misinformation
Company response
In September 2021, Facebook responded to media reports alleging that it failed to keep users safe and that its platform spread misinformation and hate speech. The company cited its spending and staffing on safety and security. Nick Clegg called the reporting unfair and disputed its characterization of Facebook's research and actions. The response addressed the reports' claims about user safety, misinformation, and hate speech without detailing specific outcomes.
Company response
Denial — Facebook
At the heart of this series is an allegation that is just plain false: that Facebook conducts research and then systematically and willfully ignores it if the findings are inconvenient for the company
Source excerpt
Facebook fired back after a series of withering Wall Street Journal reports that the company failed to keep users safe, with the social media giant noting an increase in staff and spending on battling abuses.
Multiple media reports criticised Facebook for being a platform that spread misinformation and hate speech with no security of its users
At the heart of this series is an allegation that is just plain false: that Facebook conducts research and then systematically and willfully ignores it if the findings are inconvenient for the company
2021
Phhhoto sues Meta over alleged Instagram feature copying
Lawsuit filed
Phhhoto filed a lawsuit against Meta, alleging that Facebook copied its photo app's feature for Instagram's Boomerang and blocked Phhhoto from Instagram's API and from post recommendations. Meta stated that the suit was without merit and that it would defend itself. The dispute concerns allegations of feature copying and access restrictions on Instagram's platform.
Phhhoto sued Meta, alleging that Facebook copied its photo app’s feature for Instagram’s Boomerang and blocked Phhhoto from Instagram’s API and post recommendations. Meta said the suit was without merit and that it would defend itself.
Company response
Denial — Meta
A Meta spokesperson said that "this suit is without merit and we will defend ourselves vigorously"
Source excerpt
Meta, formerly known as Facebook, has been sued by a photo app called Phhhoto for allegedly copying its features for Instagram.
The company also blocked Phhhoto from Instagram's API and from being pre-populated in Instagram posts, reports The Verge.
2021
Phhhoto files antitrust lawsuit against Facebook
Lawsuit filed
Phhhoto filed an antitrust lawsuit against Facebook, alleging that Facebook and Instagram cloned its app and used their market share in ways that caused Phhhoto's business to fall behind. A Meta spokesperson said the suit was without merit and that Meta would defend itself vigorously.
Company response
Denial — Meta
A Meta spokesperson declined the allegations and said, 'This suit is without merit and we will defend ourselves vigorously.'
Source excerpt
A Meta spokesperson declined the allegations and said, 'This suit is without merit and we will defend ourselves vigorously.'
The suit claims that Facebook and Instagram then created a clone that does the same job and then used the market share to get the other app to fall behind in the race.
As Facebook Inc (FB) fights off a monopoly lawsuit charged by the FTC, another predicament hits the company as photo app Phhhoto has filed an antitrust lawsuit against the tech giant claiming that it has cloned their app and ruined their business.
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.