German court rules Meta liable for scam and harmful ads on platforms
A German court held Meta legally liable for scam and harmful advertisements that appeared on Facebook and Instagram. The ruling concerns Meta's responsibility for actively promoting content through its algorithms rather than acting as a neutral intermediary.
What happened
A German court ruled Meta liable for scam and harmful advertisements appearing on Facebook and Instagram.
Reported impact
Scam and harmful ads were promoted on Meta's platforms, causing user harm.
Index analysis
Meta's algorithms actively recommend, amplify and control the visibility of content on its platforms.
Governance controls
The Indian government questioned whether Meta can claim intermediary protection given its active role in recommending and promoting content through algorithms, suggesting Meta should take greater responsibility for moderating illegal content.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.