Facebook settles 5 advertising discrimination lawsuits

Jack Stewart Mar 20, 2019
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Paper circles with the Facebook logo are displayed during the F8 Facebook Developers conference on April 30, 2019 in San Jose, California. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg delivered the opening keynote to the FB Developer conference that runs through May 1. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Facebook settles 5 advertising discrimination lawsuits

Jack Stewart Mar 20, 2019
Paper circles with the Facebook logo are displayed during the F8 Facebook Developers conference on April 30, 2019 in San Jose, California. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg delivered the opening keynote to the FB Developer conference that runs through May 1. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
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It’s no secret that nearly all of Facebook’s revenue comes from advertising. But did you know Facebook is accused of allowing advertisers to discriminate against minorities, women and other protected groups? In some cases, civil rights groups say, Facebook made it possible for housing, job and credit advertisements to post to the feeds of white people or men exclusively — a violation of decades-old equal opportunity laws. The American Civil Liberties Union and other civil rights organizations brought lawsuits against the internet giant, and on Tuesday Facebook settled, paying $5 million to the plaintiffs and pledging to do better.

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