Meta Liable for Fake Ads on Facebook, Instagram, German Court Rules

07:01 AM EDT, 09/17/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Meta Platforms (META) was held liable by a German court for fake advertisements posted by third parties on Facebook and Instagram, Reuters reported Thursday. The court, according to the report, ordered Meta to remove the content, pay damages, and disclose details of the advertisements and revenue generated from them. The ruling found Meta could not rely on the Digital Services Act's lack-of-knowledge defense, citing its control over content through algorithms and advertising practices, it said. The ruling is not final and may be appealed, Reuters said. Meta did not immediately respond to MT Newswires' request for comment.