Meta ordered to remove fake ads and pay damages in Germany

Anabelle Colaco
20 Sep 2026, 07:30 GMT+10

Meta must remove fake advertisements from Instagram and Facebook, pay damages, and disclose details about the ads and revenue generated from them after a German court found the company liable for content posted by third parties
The case was brought by the operator of a German financial portal and its founder
Their trademarked logo and image had been used without their consent in posts that allegedly recommended investments with fraudulent intent

BERLIN, Germany: Meta must remove fake advertisements from Instagram and Facebook, pay damages, and disclose details about the ads and revenue generated from them after a German court found the company liable for content posted by third parties.

The case was brought by the operator of a German financial portal and its founder. Their trademarked logo and image had been used without their consent in posts that allegedly recommended investments with fraudulent intent.

The portal operator reported nearly 260 violations to Meta in August 2024 alone. The court said Meta took up to 62 days to remove some of the content.

The court found that Meta could not rely on the Digital Services Act's lack-of-knowledge defense. It said that, unlike purely chronological feeds, Meta exercises control over content through its algorithms and advertising practices.

The court referred to a precedent established by a June ruling from the European Court of Justice.

"We respectfully disagree with this decision and are considering next steps," a Meta spokesperson said in a statement, adding that the company had taken significant action, including proactive detection measures and removal of reported content.

Under the ruling, dated September 16, Meta must also disclose details of the fake advertisements and the revenue generated from them.

The ruling is not yet final and may be challenged by lodging an appeal, the court said.