t rules that Facebook can be sued for biased advertising algorithm claims
A California State Court of Appeals ruled that Facebook can be sued for claims that its advertising algorithm was biased.
The ruling reverses an earlier ruling made in 2020, which stated that Facebook was shielded from liability under Section 230. This law protects online platforms against legal action when they share illegal content.
Why do we care? If the Facebook algorithm is biased, brands using its ad tools could be unintentionally engaging in discriminatory behavior.
A biased ad-algorithm? Facebook was initially taken to court for violating civil right laws in 2020. Samantha Liapes, 48, was charged with a violation of civil rights laws after she tried to search for an insurance company on Facebook. Liapes claimed that she was not shown insurance ads because of her gender and age.
2020 outcome. The court dismissed the case after finding Facebook’s tools to be “neutral” on their face, concluding Facebook was immune from prosecution under the Communications Decency Act (47 U.S.C. Liapes, however, appealed this decision.
Appeal. Appeal.
The court concluded that Facebook does more than just disseminate and proliferate content. It also creates, shapes or develops it.
Deep dive. Liapes, v. Facebook, Inc., in its entirety, for more information.
The post Facebook may be sued for alleged biased advertising algorithm, a court has ruled first appeared on Search Engine Land.