Meta-owned Facebook has agreed to settle with the US government for $115,000 and has assured to change its ad technology following allegations that the tech firm engaged in discriminatory advertising policy that violated a federal housing law.

According to terms of the settlement, Facebook will stop using an advertising tool for housing ads that the government said employed a discriminatory algorithm to locate users who “look like” other users based on characteristics protected by the Fair Housing Act, like race, national origin and sex, the Justice Department said.

Under the settlement, which still needs to be approved by the court, Facebook has agreed that by December 31 it would stop using the tool once called “Lookalike Audience”, which relies on an algorithm on the basis of race, sex and other characteristics, and create a new system for housing ads.

That new system has to be approved by the government. If the system is accepted, Meta will have to submit to regular third-party reviews to ensure it remains in compliance. The settlement will be dissolved and the case will return to federal court if the new ad system doesn’t sufficiently address the issues.

Apart from that, Meta has been asked to pay the maximum penalty under the Fair Housing Act of $115,054 under the settlement.

“As technology rapidly evolves, companies like Meta have a responsibility to ensure their algorithmic tools are not used in a discriminatory manner,” said Kristen Clarke, DOJ assistant attorney general of the civil rights division, in a statement.

The case came to the light during an investigation in 2019 discrimination charge by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. HUD referred the case to the DOJ after the company elected to have the charge heard in federal court, according to the release.

In a&nbsp;blog post&nbsp;following the announcement, Meta described the agreement as the result of “more than a year of collaboration with HUD to develop a novel use of machine learning technology that will work to ensure the age, gender and estimated race or ethnicity of a housing ad’s overall audience matches the age, gender and estimated race or ethnicity mix of the population eligible to see that ad.”

(With inputs from agencies)

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Meta-owned Facebook has agreed to settle with the US government for $115,000 and has assured to change its ad technology following allegations that the tech firm engaged in discriminatory advertising policy that violated a federal housing law.

Meta-owned Facebook has agreed to settle with the US government for $115,000 and has assured to change its ad technology following allegations that the tech firm engaged in discriminatory advertising policy that violated a federal housing law. According to terms of the settlement, Facebook will stop using an advertising tool for housing ads that the government said employed a discriminatory algorithm to locate users who “look like” other users based on characteristics protected by the Fair Housing Act, like race, national origin and sex, the Justice Department said. Under the settlement, which still needs to be approved by the court, Facebook has agreed that by December 31 it would stop using the tool once called “Lookalike Audience”, which relies on an algorithm on the basis of race, sex and other characteristics, and create a new system for housing ads. That new system has to be approved by the government. If the system is accepted, Meta will have to submit to regular third-party reviews to ensure it remains in compliance. The settlement will be dissolved and the case will return to federal court if the new ad system doesn’t sufficiently address the issues. Apart from that, Meta has been asked to pay the maximum penalty under the Fair Housing Act of $115,054 under the settlement. “As technology rapidly evolves, companies like Meta have a responsibility to ensure their algorithmic tools are not used in a discriminatory manner,” said Kristen Clarke, DOJ assistant attorney general of the civil rights division, in a statement. The case came to the light during an investigation in 2019 discrimination charge by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. HUD referred the case to the DOJ after the company elected to have the charge heard in federal court, according to the release. In a blog post following the announcement, Meta described the agreement as the result of “more than a year of collaboration with HUD to develop a novel use of machine learning technology that will work to ensure the age, gender and estimated race or ethnicity of a housing ad’s overall audience matches the age, gender and estimated race or ethnicity mix of the population eligible to see that ad.” (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Facebook, US govt agree to settle in discriminatory housing ad algorithm case

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/facebook-bans-white-nationalism-white-separatism-on-its-platforms-206154">US Department of Housing and Urban Development</a> (HUD) charged Facebook Inc on Thursday with violating the Fair Housing Act, alleging that the company's targeted advertising discriminated on the basis of race and colour.

Seeking damages and unspecified appropriate relief for the harm caused, HUD said that <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/facebook-shuts-more-inauthentic-accounts-linked-to-iran-russia-macedonia-kosovo-205835">Facebook also restricted </a>who could see housing-related ads based on national origin, religion, familial status, sex and disability.

Facebook said it had been working with HUD on the issue and was surprised by the department's decision to issue the charge, having taken significant steps to prevent ads that discriminate across its platforms.

The social media giant said last week it would create a new advertising portal for ads linked to housing and employment that would limit targeting options for advertisers and pledged to build a tool that would allow users to search all current housing ads listed in the United States, regardless of whether the ads were directed at them.

The HUD charge said that Facebook enabled advertisers to exclude people whom the social network's data classified as parents, non-American-born, non-Christian, or a variety of other interests that closely align with the Fair Housing Act's protected classes.

"Facebook is discriminating against people based upon who they are and where they live," HUD Secretary Ben Carson said. "Using a computer to limit a person's housing choices can be just as discriminatory as slamming a door in someone's face."

Advertising practices at the world's largest social network, with 2.7 billion users and nearly $56 billion in annual revenue, have been under the microscope for about two years of growing discontent over Facebook's approach to privacy and user data.

News organization ProPublica reported as far back as 2016 that advertisers could target ads through Facebook based on people's self-reported jobs, even if the job was "Jew hater".

ProPublica later reported that it was able to buy discriminatory housing ads and slip them past Facebook's review process, despite the company's claims it was blocking such ads.

Since then, Facebook has undergone legal pressure over the issue from the National Fair Housing Alliance, the American Civil Liberties Union and the Communications Workers of America, among other groups and individuals.

The civil charge follows an investigation by HUD in August when it filed a formal complaint against Facebook for violating the Fair Housing Act by allowing landlords and home sellers to use its advertising platform to engage in housing discrimination.

The charge will be heard by a US law administrative judge who can award damages for harm caused by the discrimination, along with fines and injunctive and other equitable relief.

The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in housing and related services, which includes online advertisements, based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, or familial status.

The US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) charged Facebook Inc on Thursday with violating the Fair Housing Act, alleging that the company's targeted advertising discriminated on the basis of race and colour.

The US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) charged Facebook Inc on Thursday with violating the Fair Housing Act, alleging that the company's targeted advertising discriminated on the basis of race and colour. Seeking damages and unspecified appropriate relief for the harm caused, HUD said that Facebook also restricted who could see housing-related ads based on national origin, religion, familial status, sex and disability. Facebook said it had been working with HUD on the issue and was surprised by the department's decision to issue the charge, having taken significant steps to prevent ads that discriminate across its platforms. The social media giant said last week it would create a new advertising portal for ads linked to housing and employment that would limit targeting options for advertisers and pledged to build a tool that would allow users to search all current housing ads listed in the United States, regardless of whether the ads were directed at them. The HUD charge said that Facebook enabled advertisers to exclude people whom the social network's data classified as parents, non-American-born, non-Christian, or a variety of other interests that closely align with the Fair Housing Act's protected classes. "Facebook is discriminating against people based upon who they are and where they live," HUD Secretary Ben Carson said. "Using a computer to limit a person's housing choices can be just as discriminatory as slamming a door in someone's face." Advertising practices at the world's largest social network, with 2.7 billion users and nearly $56 billion in annual revenue, have been under the microscope for about two years of growing discontent over Facebook's approach to privacy and user data. News organization ProPublica reported as far back as 2016 that advertisers could target ads through Facebook based on people's self-reported jobs, even if the job was "Jew hater". ProPublica later reported that it was able to buy discriminatory housing ads and slip them past Facebook's review process, despite the company's claims it was blocking such ads. Since then, Facebook has undergone legal pressure over the issue from the National Fair Housing Alliance, the American Civil Liberties Union and the Communications Workers of America, among other groups and individuals. The civil charge follows an investigation by HUD in August when it filed a formal complaint against Facebook for violating the Fair Housing Act by allowing landlords and home sellers to use its advertising platform to engage in housing discrimination. The charge will be heard by a US law administrative judge who can award damages for harm caused by the discrimination, along with fines and injunctive and other equitable relief. The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in housing and related services, which includes online advertisements, based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, or familial status.

Facebook charged with racial discrimination over targeted housing ads

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