Meta faces legal threats over fraudulent news advertisements

The Norwegian media organization MBL has issued a formal notice of intent to sue Meta Platforms Ireland for violations of copyright, trademark, and marketing laws. The legal action stems from fraudulent advertisements on Facebook that impersonate prominent Norwegian news outlets, such as NRK and VG, to deceive users into scams like fraudulent bitcoin investment schemes.

MBL leadership states that scammers are leveraging the credibility of established media to defraud consumers while Meta collects revenue from the placement of these ads. Reports suggest that Meta may have estimated that approximately 10% of its 2024 revenue originated from such fraudulent advertisements.

In Sweden, a prosecutor has been tasked with investigating a police report filed by the publishing organization Utgivarnas regarding similar fraudulent activities on Meta's platforms. Media professionals have expressed concern that these scams undermine journalistic trust and drive up advertising costs for legitimate actors.