Facebook To Overhaul Ad Targeting To Prevent Discrimination (apnews.com) 51
Facebook will overhaul its ad-targeting systems to prevent discrimination in housing, credit and employment ads as part of a legal settlement. From a report: For the social network, that's one major legal problem down, several to go, including government investigations in the U.S. and Europe over its data and privacy practices. The changes to Facebook's advertising methods -- which generate most of the company's enormous profits -- are unprecedented. The social network says it will no longer allow housing, employment or credit ads that target people by age, gender or zip code. Facebook will also limit other targeting options so these ads don't exclude people on the basis of race, ethnicity and other legally protected categories in the U.S., including national origin and sexual orientation.
The social media company is also paying about $5 million to cover plaintiffs' legal fees and other costs. Facebook and the plaintiffs -- a group including the American Civil Liberties Union, the National Fair Housing Alliance and others -- called the settlement "historic." It took 18 months to hammer out. The company still faces an administrative complaint filed by U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in August over the housing ads issue. A critic writes, "Funny how Facebook spent years quietly defending these ad targeting systems, got sued, settled, and now Sandberg calls them 'discriminatory' and cheers the 'historic' settlement."
The social media company is also paying about $5 million to cover plaintiffs' legal fees and other costs. Facebook and the plaintiffs -- a group including the American Civil Liberties Union, the National Fair Housing Alliance and others -- called the settlement "historic." It took 18 months to hammer out. The company still faces an administrative complaint filed by U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in August over the housing ads issue. A critic writes, "Funny how Facebook spent years quietly defending these ad targeting systems, got sued, settled, and now Sandberg calls them 'discriminatory' and cheers the 'historic' settlement."
In other words . . . (Score:4, Informative)
Re: (Score:3)
In many states, yes.
Excuse me sir, did you just assume my zipcode? (Score:1)
*nt*
So nothing effective then (Score:2)
A real solution would include affinity groups, education, groups that one belongs to or does not belong to.
I was born in the South. I know how this works.
Re: (Score:2, Insightful)
This is spot on. The individual no longer matters. The only thing that matters is the group as a whole, easier to discriminate that way.
Re: (Score:1)
Best solution would just be to stop all the targeting crap and reduce it to some extremely broad geographic areas. Area is the only really necessary selector.
Re: (Score:2)
Would an extremely sensitive snowflake care to explain why this is trolling?
Can users elect to *not* see irrelevant data? (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Is it discriminatory if the advertiser isn't choosing it, but the would-be viewer is?
Or is it now even prohibited to discriminate against yourself?
Re: (Score:1, Insightful)
Or is it now even prohibited to discriminate against yourself?
Normal rules apply - if you're a protected class it will be wrong regardless of how much sense it makes and if you're a white male then you should be discriminated against as you personally are responsible or benefited from all evil ever.
To avoid discrimination? (Score:1)
More ads to pay for? (Score:2)
Why not allow it? (Score:1)
At least in the US it's illegal to target housing by race/ethnicity, gender or a bunch of other protected classes.
So, why not just serve the ads and relay the same directly to the law enforcement agency responsible for enforcing it? You'd have a nice package -- offender, evidence, victim (it's facebook, so you even know the name of the victim who witnessed the ad) neatly shrink wrapped to issue your fine.
Party bought 10,000 impressions -- served to 10,000 people... fine them a hundred bucks a victim and m
Sounds dangerous (Score:2)
Non-discriminatory lending & housing ads?
Isn't that reminiscent of how the 2007/8 global financial crisis was caused?
Zip code discrimination? (Score:3)
I am not a fan of Facebook, however, what is wrong with zipcode targeting? If I have a product to which some zipcodes are more receptive to, why would I want to pay for advertising in zipcodes where people cannot afford it, are not interested, or simply cannot even legally buy the product. Say for example I am selling financing for Tesla vehicles, why would you force people in states where you cannot legally buy a Tesla to view my ads (e.g. in Michigan)? Also, if my yield for Tesla vehicle financing is greatest for 30-55 year olds, why would I want o pay for teenagers or 20'somethings to view my ads? Best example, what if I have a mortgage company which only gives mortgages for NYC properties, why do I have to now pay for advertising in other zipcodes hoping to catch the tiny percentage of people who are moving to NYC?
ah (Score:2)
So that is why I am getting all those ads for straightening hair.
How would targeting work then? (Score:2)
Targeting entails selecting focus based on a set of criteria. That is discrimination. So, how can you target without discriminating?