A federal district court judge in California has ruled that Australian billionaire Andrew Forrest can proceed with his lawsuit against Meta Platforms Inc. Forrest accuses the social media giant of negligence in its advertising business and misappropriation of his name and likeness after scam Facebook ads featured him endorsing fake cryptocurrencies and other investments. The decision marks the first instance where a social media company was unable to invoke immunity under Section 230 of the federal Communications Decency Act in a U.S. civil case related to advertising.
The litigation is being led by Arthur Bryant, a partner at Bailey Glasser in Oakland, California. Andrew Forrest, who is also noted for his philanthropy, is contesting against Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook. More details on this ongoing legal battle can be found here.