On June 21, the Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a lawsuit and a settlement framework with Meta Platforms, Inc. (previously known as Facebook) to resolve allegations that Meta’s advertising placement algorithms discriminate against Facebook users based on their race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, and national origin (Protected Characteristics) in violation of the Fair Housing Act (FHA). The DOJ action is a direct outgrowth of the discrimination charge filed by HUD against Facebook in 2019.
The DOJ’s Lawsuit