Australian prosecutors have dropped charges against Meta, Facebook’s parent company, in the ongoing lawsuit against the company brought by billionaire Andrew Forrest over fraudulent crypto ads circulating on the social media platform.
According to a report from Reuters, a spokesperson from the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions said the department didn’t find sufficient evidence to continue prosecution. He reportedly didn’t give further details.
In 2022, Forrest accused Meta of displaying thousands of fraudulent crypto advertisements on its social media platform. He alleged that Meta’s actions violated Australian anti-money laundering laws by allowing third-party fraudsters to exploit its software and promote fraudulent schemes using his likeness, misleading individuals into believing he endorsed them.
The billionaire pursued the case under Australian laws, which permit citizens to criminally prosecute an international corporation with the consent of the nation’s attorney general.
Reacting to the new development, Forrest reportedly stated that the department’s decision to dismiss the suit was a tragic situation for innocent parents and grandparents who had lost their entire life savings. The billionaire added that he would continue his legal battle against Meta in California regarding the same issue regardless of this setback.
A Meta spokesperson, in response to the development, emphasized the intricate nature of scams, noting that wrongdoers exploit any available platform to perpetrate their schemes. The spokesperson also expressed Meta’s empathy for those who have fallen victim to these scams, underscoring the company’s commitment to addressing this complex issue.
In a separate case, Google filed a lawsuit on April 4 against two individuals, accusing them of running racketeering schemes through Google’s Pastor Play Store and YouTube. Google alleged that both individuals used deceptive methods, including text messages, affiliate marketing, and online videos, to deceive customers and dupe them of their funds. The company, in the court documents, claimed that it incurred damages up to $75,000 as a result of these actions.
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