Rafal Brzoska, a wealthy entrepreneur from Poland, alongside his wife, is preparing to initiate legal action against Meta over deceptive advertisements circulating on Facebook and Instagram. These ads not only feature Brzoska’s likeness but also propagate false information regarding his wife.
While details regarding the specific jurisdiction for the lawsuit have yet to be established, this legal action would contribute to ongoing global efforts to hold Meta accountable for misleading advertisements that persist despite user reports to the company.
A representative from Meta stated that the company promptly removes false ads from its platforms upon discovery and collaborates with local authorities to combat fraudulent activities.
Brzoska, who founded the Polish parcel locker service InPost, reported that he brought the issue to Meta’s attention in early July, but claims that no effective resolution has been reached.
“We plan to file a private lawsuit against Meta… The jurisdiction for our action is still under consideration, and we expect to finalize our decision in the upcoming weeks,” Brzoska remarked in an interview with Reuters.
He further noted, “…we are evaluating all possibilities, including pursuing a lawsuit in the United States should we encounter delays in Europe.”
Brzoska and his wife seek not only to halt Meta’s use of content that infringes on their rights but also aim for substantial compensation that they intend to donate to a charitable organization. This amount is expected to reflect the advertising revenue derived from the dissemination of such disinformation.
In a recent development, the President of the Personal Data Protection Office of Poland mandated that Meta Platforms Ireland Limited cease the display of false advertisements featuring Brzoska and his wife’s personas on its platforms for a period of three months.
In an email statement, the Meta spokesperson acknowledged the ongoing challenges posed by scammers, stating, “These criminals exploit every available platform to deceive individuals and continually adapt in an effort to avoid detection. Scam content violates our policies, and we remove it upon discovery.” The spokesperson also indicated that the company is reviewing the decision made by the data protection office.
“We work with various stakeholders, including businesses, local governments, and law enforcement agencies, to combat these determined fraudsters,” the statement continued.
© Thomson Reuters 2024
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