HUD Alleges Facebook Discriminated Against Users Through Housing Ads
Facebook violated the Fair Housing Act by “encouraging, enabling and causing housing discrimination” through its advertising platform, the Department of Housing and Urban Development alleged Thursday. Stemming from Secretary Ben Carson’s August complaint, HUD said the platform “unlawfully discriminates based…
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on race, color, national origin, religion, familial status, sex, and disability” by limiting viewership of housing-related ads. The platform “mines extensive data” to determine which users can views certain ads. “Using a computer to limit a person’s housing choices can be just as discriminatory as slamming a door in someone’s face,” Carson said. A U.S. administrative law judge is expected to decide the charge, unless either side opts for a court. The company faces damages related to discrimination, attorney fees, public interest fines and punitive damages. “We're surprised by HUD's decision, as we've been working with them to address their concerns and have taken significant steps to prevent ads discrimination,” a company spokesperson said. “While we were eager to find a solution, HUD insisted on access to sensitive information -- like user data -- without adequate safeguards.” The company cited agreements with the National Fair Housing Alliance, American Civil Liberties Union and others for changing housing, credit and employment ads. Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., urged an end to such practices, tweeting, “Our personal info is being used in harmful ways that affect Americans’ wellbeing and livelihood -- from housing to employment.”