Documents show that the company's platforms show users approximately 15 billion dubious advertisements every day, including online casinos, illegal medical products and investment scams. Meta charges advertising fees even from suspicious advertisers, while limiting blocking to only those its systems automatically detect as fraudulent.
A Meta spokesman said the Reuters data “misrepresents the company's approach to fighting fraud” and that its internal estimate of revenue from fraudulent ads was inaccurate and included legitimate ads.
Experts have criticized Meta for making money from dubious ads, noting the lack of effective oversight of the advertising industry. Fraud expert and former Meta security officer Sandeep Abraham says it is unacceptable for companies to make money from fraudulent ads.
