Arabic version: محكمة أميركية تفرض عقوبات على ميتا في قضية إعلانات احتيال أندرو فورست

According to ABC News, a US Federal Court has ruled that Meta failed to preserve key evidence in its ongoing legal dispute with Australian billionaire Andrew Forrest over scam advertisements using his likeness without permission. The judge found that Meta had “spoliated” evidence, resulting in “prejudice against” Forrest, and imposed sanctions on the company.

Forrest is suing Meta over advertisements on its platforms that portrayed him endorsing fraudulent cryptocurrency and other investment products on Facebook. His legal team said the ads had plagued him for years and duped thousands of victims. Meta has said it did not produce the offending marketing messages.

The ruling said Meta did not take reasonable steps to preserve electronically stored information that should have been retained in anticipation of litigation, including final scam ads shown to victims. Under US law, spoliation can involve intentionally, recklessly or negligently withholding, hiding, altering or destroying evidence relevant to a legal proceeding.

The court said that if a jury finds at trial that Meta acted with intent to deprive Forrest of the information, it should assume the missing evidence was unfavourable to Meta. Forrest welcomed the decision, saying the sanctions sent a “clear message” that Meta could not lose or destroy evidence and use its absence as a shield. The court said Forrest was entitled to fees and costs incurred as of the ruling, with both parties required to discuss the amount.