Santa Clara County Sues Meta Over Scam Advertisements

Santa Clara County, California, sued Meta Platforms Inc. over allegations that the company knowingly facilitates and profits from billions of scam advertisements on its social networks, including Facebook and Instagram. The complaint states that the company tracks the scam ads yet still allows them to run.

County officials said the advertisements particularly targeted seniors and families. Meta makes approximately $7 billion in revenue each year from these kinds of ads, according to a statement from the Santa Clara County counsel who is bringing the lawsuit.

The official is seeking injunctive relief, civil penalties and restitution for money lost as a result of the company's actions. A spokesperson for Meta did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The county counsel said certain ads promote a series of scams, including fraudulent financial products, cryptocurrency schemes, purported cures for incurable diseases, ineffective nutritional supplements, and impersonations of celebrities asking for monetary contributions.

Meta makes the vast majority of its revenue from advertisements and brought in over $200 billion in sales in 2025. The company's headquarters are in neighboring San Mateo County while many of its employees live in Santa Clara County, which houses much of Silicon Valley.

The lawsuit was filed in state court in a county that includes the homes of numerous Meta employees, including Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg.