Polish Entrepreneur Takes Legal Action Against Meta Over Misleading Ads Using His Likeness

Rafal Brzoska, a wealthy entrepreneur from Poland, along with his wife, is preparing to take legal action against Meta concerning misleading advertisements on Facebook and Instagram. These ads misuse his likeness and contain false information about his wife that is circulating on these platforms.

Brzoska expressed that they have not reached a decision on where to file the expected lawsuit, which would add to a growing effort worldwide to hold the tech titan accountable for persistent ads that remain active, even after users alert the company about the issues.

A representative from Meta asserted that the organization actively eliminates misleading promotions upon being notified and works in conjunction with regional law enforcement to tackle deceptive practices.

The founder of InPost, a Polish delivery locker service, indicated that he first reported the issue to Meta in early July, but they did not provide a satisfactory resolution.

Brzoska mentioned their intention to pursue a private lawsuit against Meta, with a final decision on jurisdictions happening within the coming weeks. He noted that they are considering all possibilities, including legal action in the United States, if there is no progress in Europe.

The couple aims to require Meta to cease profiting from the promotion of content that infringes on their rights and seeks a significant donation to a charity, proportional to the earnings generated from this kind of misinformation.

Recently, the President of the Personal Data Protection Office mandated that Meta Platforms Ireland Limited halt the display of false advertisements that exploit the real identities and images of Brzoska and his wife on Facebook (FB) and Instagram in Poland for a duration of three months.

A Meta representative commented that scammers exploit all available channels to deceive individuals and continually adapt to avoid detection. They emphasized that scam content violates their policies and is removed upon discovery while also stating the company is reviewing the office's directive.

Additionally, they asserted that Meta collaborates with businesses, local authorities, and law enforcement agencies to combat these determined offenders.