Lawsuit Details
Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha announced the filing of an official lawsuit against Meta, accusing the company of failing to take adequate measures to prevent the spread of fraudulent advertisements across its platforms. The lawsuit alleges that the company did not take decisive action against these activities because they generate massive financial returns for it.
Neronha affirmed in his statements that the company bears a moral and legal responsibility toward its users, pointing out that Meta exposed the most vulnerable users to deliberate scams aimed at maximizing its profits. This marks the first time an American state has taken direct legal action against Meta regarding this specific issue.
Meta's Response
For its part, Meta denied these allegations through its official spokesperson Andy Stone, emphasizing that the company has removed more than 159 million fraudulent ads from its platforms. Stone criticized the Attorney General's approach, noting his office's refusal to cooperate with the company to discuss the applied protection mechanisms, resorting instead to hiring an out-of-state law firm to file a lawsuit that ignores Meta's daily efforts in this regard.
Why This News Matters
This case gains special importance given the ongoing debate over the responsibility of social media platforms for advertising content. A previous Reuters report in 2025 indicated that fraudulent ads could constitute a major source of income for Meta, with their contribution estimated at up to 10% of the company's total revenue.
Although this is not the first time Meta has faced lawsuits concerning this file (preceded by lawsuits from the American Consumer Institute and Santa Clara County in California), the entry of an entire state as a plaintiff raises the ceiling of legal and regulatory challenges facing the company in managing digital advertising policies.