The prominent businessman, also known as pop star Janet Jackson’s ex-husband, has taken legal action against Meta in Dublin, Ireland, over the past three years, alleging significant reputational damage, distress and embarrassment caused by the fraudulent ads.
According to a report from the Financial Times, Meta (formerly known as Facebook) publicly apologized to Qatari billionaire Wissam al Mana and pledged to provide additional safeguards after his image was exploited in crypto scam ads on the platform.
Meta Admits Having Published False and Defamatory Crypto Ads
During a court hearing in Dublin on Friday, Meta admitted that “false, misleading and defamatory advertisements” featuring Wissam al Mana’s image were published on Facebook without his knowledge or consent.
The social media giant expressed remorse for the harm caused and issued a sincere and unreserved apology to Mr. Al Mana. According to the report, high-profile figures, including politicians, also launched legal proceedings in Ireland against social media companies, highlighting the use of their names and images to promote cryptocurrency scams.
Notably, Meta settled a defamation lawsuit brought by Martin Lewis in England by making a substantial donation to an anti-scam charity and introducing new tools for users to report fake ads.
Although ads are reviewed and approved by Meta before they appear on Facebook, industry experts say scammers can use fake identities to bypass these controls. Those responsible for the fraudulent advertisements in which Wissam al Mana appears have not responded or been involved in the case, which calls into question their legitimacy.
Meta Pledges to Take Strong Action Against Misleading Ads
In response to the litigation, Meta has committed to implementing “robust measures” to combat these types of misleading ads in the future. The terms of the agreement reached between the parties have remained confidential, and Irish law firm Ronan Daly Jermyn represented Wissam al Mana in the Dublin proceedings.
Wissam al Mana, a well-known businessman from the Gulf region, plays an important role in the management of his family group in Qatar and holds exclusive distribution rights to multiple luxury brands, including Harvey Nichols, Alexander McQueen and Hermès.
After proceedings against Meta began in Dublin in February 2020, Wissam al Mana’s case was resolved in court on Friday. In particular, the Financial Times highlights that Irish defamation laws are perceived as more favorable than those in the United States.
The allegations brought by Wissam al Mana’s legal team maintain that while Facebook removed the initial set of fraudulent ads, the platform failed to implement effective measures to prevent their recurrence. Additional fake ads subsequently emerged in 2019, prompting Meta to remove them once again.
As a result of this case, Meta is faced with the imperative to improve its protocols and preventive measures to effectively combat fraudulent ads and protect the integrity of its platform.
The outcome of this settlement marks a step towards greater accountability in addressing crypto scam ads and safeguarding the reputations of individuals who are subject to such deceptive practices.
At its core, the legal battle between Meta and Wissam al Mana over unauthorized crypto ads is an important episode in the broader narrative of technology, regulation, and individual rights. It sheds light on the complex challenges social media companies face in regulating content and the changing landscape of digital advertising ethics.
As Meta navigates this challenging terrain, the outcome of this case could have far-reaching implications for how social media platforms address similar issues in the future, balancing innovation with responsibility.
By Leonardo Perez
