Facebook owner Meta has agreed to pay $115,000 to replace its ad targeting technology and settle charges the US government, the social media giant, allowed discrimination among those viewing housing ads, officials said Tuesday. Said to
under the terms of a deal that still must be approved by a court, meta It will use artificial intelligence to ensure that ads cross demographics to reach people regardless of age, gender or race.
Roy Austin, META’s deputy general counsel, said in a post, “We will introduce a new method designed to ensure that the audience viewing a housing ad more closely reflects the eligible target audience for that ad. “
The Department of Housing and Urban Development alleged in 2019 that Facebook “illegally discriminates on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, family status, gender and disability” on who can view housing-related ads.
Facebook has become a multi-billion dollar advertising juggernaut with its vast amounts of user data that allow companies to more accurately target certain demographics, but which have also prompted allegations of privacy violations and discrimination. Is.
Austin said that while HUD’s allegations focused on housing ads, Meta will use the new system to ensure there is no discrimination for jobs or credit.
Meta is working with HUD on a “variation reduction system” to prevent discrimination in ad targeting on its platform.
The proposed settlement states that META has already made changes to address housing advertising discrimination concerns, and they will remain in effect.
Facebook announced in early 2019 that it was improving how it used targeted advertising in a deal with active groups, alleging it discriminated against messages on jobs, housing, credit and other services. Is.
By the end of this year, Meta will stop allowing targeting of ads using a pair of “special audience” tools that may make up certain groups of people, the settlement said.
Court documents state that Meta will also pay a civil penalty of $115,000 and conduct an independent third-party investigation to ensure it is complying with the terms of the settlement.
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This story has been published without modification in text from a wire agency feed. Only the title has been changed.