SOCIAL
Facebook Continues to Escalate Legal Proceedings Over Platform Violations


Facebook is taking legal action against a company which used Facebook posts and ads to trick users into downloading malware, in order to steal their personal information.
As explained by Facebook:
“The defendants deceived people into installing malware available on the internet. This malware then enabled the defendants to compromise people’s Facebook accounts and run deceptive ads promoting items such as counterfeit goods and diet pills.”
Facebook’s filing implies that ILikeAd Media International Company Ltd. aimed to trick people into installing such malware by using images of celebrities in their ads to entice people to click on them – “a practice known as “celeb bait.”
“In some instances, the defendants also engaged in a practice known as cloaking. Through cloaking, the defendants deliberately disguised the true destination of the link in the ad by displaying one version of an ad’s landing page to Facebook’s systems and a different version to Facebook users.”
The case is just the latest in Facebook’s increasing legal action against platform misuse. Back in March, Facebook filed suit against several companies over the sale of fake followers and likes, following a ruling by New York’s Attorney General that selling fake social media followers and likes is essentially illegal. In August, Facebook launched another set of legal proceedings against two app developers over ‘click injection fraud’, which simulates clicks in order to extract ad revenue.
Facebook’s increase in legal action over specific, on-platform practices like these underlines the growing importance of social media in the broader business space. Up till now, such processes have been largely left out of legal consideration because they’re isolated and difficult to enforce – but with so much at stake in the digital marketing sector, Facebook, and others, are looking to establish precedents to map out more clear legal boundaries.
And that can only be a good thing for the digital marketing sector. Digital fakes and frauds like this cloud the available metrics, which can be especially important in practices like influencer marketing, where buying fakes can inflate your perceived level of sway in certain spaces.
If Facebook can use such filings to help establish more clear cut legal boundaries, and penalties, that will act as a significant deterrent to such practices.
Scammers will always find new ways to cheat, but setting stronger stances against such is key in improving the integrity of the sector.
SOCIAL
Meta Adds Updated Congressional District Data to Location Targeting Options for Ads

Meta has announced an update to its US location targeting options for ads, with US congressional districts, as defined by the 2020 census, to be added as additional geo-targeting options.
As explained by Meta:
“Starting May 19, 2022, an additional set of location targeting options will be available for updated US congressional districts following the US 2020 census. These will be added to all ads interfaces (including the API) and will be denoted with “2020-census”. For example, North Carolina’s updated district 5 will be available in location targeting as “North Carolina’s 5th District-2020-Census, United States”.”
It’s a small change in the broader scheme, but could have big implications for those targeting ads based on political announcements or movements, with the more specific location qualifiers providing more considerations for your ad approach.
Meta also notes that as new congressional districts are finalized, it will make them available in its ads interfaces.
“If a state’s updated congressional map is currently in litigation, there will not be a new targeting option for it yet. If an updated congressional district isn’t available yet, we recommend using other location targeting options based on locations such as, such as targeting postal codes, cities and counties.”
So you have various options for geo-targeting your ad campaigns, but the updated districts will provide more accurate audience estimate data, and more specific focus on electoral zones.
The current, pre-2020 census congressional district targeting options will remain available to advertisers through to the beginning of 2023.
“These districts’ names and boundaries will remain the same. For example, North Carolina’s pre-2020 census district will be available as “North Carolina’s 5th District, United States”.
Again, it’s not a major change, but it does provide more insight into how Meta’s US ad targeting regions are defined, which could have specific value for businesses looking to target ads based on political impacts, interests, regional preferences, etc.
And with Apple’s ATT prompts taking a chunk out of Meta’s data tracking, you need all the tools you can to maximize ad performance. Up to date location and population data can only help in assessing potential impact.
-
SEARCHENGINES4 days ago
Google Search Console Performance Reports Logs Additional Desktop Features
-
SEO3 days ago
Google Ads Makes Automation Easier With Scripts Updates
-
PPC3 days ago
Three Key Moments You Can’t Miss at Hero Conf London 2022
-
MARKETING3 days ago
What is Conversation Intelligence and Facts you didnt know About the Software?