Rhode Island AG Initiates State’s First Lawsuit Against Meta Over Deceptive Ads

On Wednesday, Rhode Island’s attorney general disclosed that the state is suing Meta Platforms Inc., charging the social‑media behemoth with enabling misleading advertisements that prey on consumers with scams. This filing represents the inaugural instance of any U.S. state bringing such a claim against the firm.

According to the complaint, Meta’s ad‑distribution platform permits fraudsters to market deceptive offers—spanning fake investment schemes to knock‑off health items—without sufficient supervision. The suit contends that the company’s algorithms and review mechanisms did not detect or eliminate these illegal ads, causing monetary harm to Rhode Island consumers.

Officials pointed to a wider increase in internet scams in recent years, observing that the pandemic hastened the move to online shopping and, in turn, boosted the incidence of deceptive marketing. Federal bodies such as the Federal Trade Commission have repeatedly cautioned platforms to tighten ad verification, yet the Rhode Island action argues that Meta has not met those standards.

Through the suit, the attorney general is requesting a judicial injunction that would force Meta to revamp its ad‑screening system, levy financial penalties for prior breaches, and compensate the victims named in the case. The complaint further asks Meta to reveal how much scam‑related advertising appears on its services and to work with state investigators.

Meta has not issued a public response to the complaint. Legal experts note that the case may establish a benchmark for other states considering comparable lawsuits, possibly driving sector‑wide reforms in how social platforms monitor ad content. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for later this month, after which each side can submit further evidence and arguments.