A potential class-action lawsuit has accused Facebook of violating federal civil rights laws by publishing job and housing ads that discriminate against minorities. Their advertising platform allegedly causes discriminatory and illegal housing and employment advertisement to be published. Ad buyers are allegedly about to click a button that allows them to ‘Exclude People’, thus preventing their ads from being displayed to users matching certain ‘ethnic affinity’ groups or immigration status. The social networking site’s head of multicultural marketing insists that once the company becomes aware of discrimination occurring on their advertising platform that aggressive action is taken. The plaintiffs insist the company needs to do more, because a user may not be able to tell that they are subjected to discrimination and that additional action is needed to remedy this. Several African American lawmakers have urged CEO Mark Zuckerberg to make revisions to these targeting exclusions. Individuals experience discrimination in numerous settings, as a customer, as a worker, or even as a tenant. Laws against discrimination, such as the Fair Housing Act and the Civil Rights Act of 1964, provide protections. Lawyers, as well as state and federal agencies, such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), may be able to help. Contact an attorney at the Bullman Law Firm in Kansas City if you are suffering from race discrimination or harassment on the job.
Source: By Wendy Davis; From Media Post Publication Daily Online Examiner
