Meta reveals there have been 230,000 fake ads using Andrew Forrest’s image since 2019
A judge has ordered Meta to reveal details it has tried to keep hidden, as part of Australian billionaire Andrew ‘Twiggy’ Forrest’s legal battle with the social media giant.
National
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More than 230,000 fake ads using mining billionaire Andrew Forrest’s image have been posted on Meta’s social media sites via its own advertising platform since 2019, a court heard.
The shocking number was revealed during a discovery hearing in the US District Court for the Northern District of California on Tuesday, US time, after Mark Zuckerberg’s company was ordered to disclose key information about how its advertising technology has facilitated scammers.
Dr Forrest is taking legal action against Facebook’s parent company Meta arguing it does not have immunity from prosecution under Section 230 of the US Communications Decency Act.
Social media platforms and online businesses have long hidden behind a 30-year-law which immunises them from content posted by users on their platforms.
The Facebook ads – which continue to be posted on Meta’s sites – use Mr Forrest’s likeness to promote fake cryptocurrency and other fraudulent investments.
Australians have lost millions of dollars falling for the scams; some have lost their life savings.
There was a sharp increase in the ads in 2023 as criminals began to use Artificial Intelligence tools to create “deep fake” videos.
Dr Forrest’s legal team said Meta’s automated ad systems play an active role
in generating and targeting scam ads.
His legal counsel, Simon Clarke, welcomed Judge Virginia DeMarchi’s ruling that Meta provide detailed information on how its ad platform has enabled scam ads to proliferate.
“Meta’s admission confirms what we have long suspected – fraudsters are using its
advertising systems at an astonishing scale to exploit innocent Australians, many of
whom have lost their life savings,” Mr Clarke said.
“This isn’t just about criminals using the platform to defraud Australians, Meta’s own
tools have played a role in amplifying these scams, and the court has rightly ordered
full transparency into how its advertising technology operates.”
Judge DeMarchi held the snap hearing after Meta tried to limit the information provided to Dr Forrest’s legal team and made substantive orders requiring Meta to provide further details about the ads and how its advertising systems process scam content.
The social media giant was ordered to come back with the information within seven days.
“The court’s ruling ensures that we will now get to see how Meta’s own software,
algorithms, and artificial intelligence may have actively contributed perpetrating
Fraud,” Mr Clarke said.
Dr Forrest is also calling on the Australian Government to step in and demand
accountability from Meta in Australia.
“The Australian Government must take urgent action to require Meta to submit to the
jurisdiction of Australian courts, so that ordinary Australians who have been
defrauded can seek compensation in Australia,” Mr Clarke said.
A request for comment was made to Meta, but it did not reply before our deadline.
Originally published as Meta reveals there have been 230,000 fake ads using Andrew Forrest’s image since 2019
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