Santa Clara County, California, sued Meta over allegations that the company “knowingly facilitates and profits from billions of scam advertisements” on Facebook and Instagram, with County Counsel Tony LoPresti claiming that Meta makes approximately $7B in revenue each year from these types of ads. The complaint accuses Meta of defrauding seniors and families with ads promoting “fraudulent financial products, cryptocurrency schemes, purported cures for incurable diseases, ineffective nutritional supplements, and impersonations of celebrities asking for monetary contributions.” LoPresti is seeking injunctive relief, civil penalties, and restitution for money lost as a result of Meta’s actions. Santa Clara County houses much of Silicon Valley and is home to many Meta employees including CEO Mark Zuckerberg, though Meta’s headquarters are in neighboring San Mateo County.
