Polish Billionaire Rafal Brzoska and Wife Plan Legal Action Against Meta Over Fake Ads

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Polish billionaire Rafal Brzoska and his wife are preparing to file a lawsuit against Meta Platforms (META.O), alleging that fake advertisements featuring his image and misleading information about her have been circulating on Facebook and Instagram. The couple’s legal action aims to hold the tech giant accountable for allowing these fraudulent ads to persist despite their efforts to report the issue.

Brzoska, the founder of the Polish parcel locker company InPost (INPST.AS), revealed that he has been attempting to address the problem with Meta since early July, but the company has yet to provide a satisfactory resolution. “We are planning to initiate a private lawsuit against Meta,” Brzoska informed Reuters. “We have not yet determined the specific jurisdiction in which we will file the lawsuit, but we will make a decision within the next few weeks.”

Brzoska noted that the couple is considering various legal options, including potentially filing the lawsuit in the United States if adequate action is not taken in Europe. Their planned legal action seeks to halt Meta’s continued benefit from the promotion of content that infringes on their rights. Additionally, they are demanding substantial compensation, which they propose should be donated to a charity, reflecting the scale of advertising revenue generated from such disinformation.

In a recent development, the President of the Personal Data Protection Office in Poland mandated Meta Platforms Ireland Limited to cease displaying false advertisements that misuse the real images and data of Brzoska and his wife on Facebook and Instagram within Poland for a period of three months. 

A Meta spokesperson responded to the situation by stating, “We take allegations of scam content very seriously. Our company removes false ads from our platforms as soon as we become aware of them and collaborates with local authorities to combat scammers.” The spokesperson added that Meta is currently reviewing the Personal Data Protection Office’s directive and continues to work with businesses, local administrations, and law enforcement to address fraudulent activities.

The Brzoska case adds to the growing global scrutiny of Meta and other social media platforms regarding their handling of fake and misleading advertisements. This situation underscores the ongoing challenges in regulating online content and ensuring that platforms take effective measures to protect users from fraud.