Facebook charged with racial discrimination in targeted housing ads

Department of Housing and Urban Development said here in its civil charge 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 the department to address the concerns and was surprised by the decision to issue the charge, having taken “significant steps” to prevent ads that discriminate across its platforms.

The company also said the government had “insisted on access to sensitive information - like user data - without adequate safeguards,” adding that it was willing to provide aggregate reports but not user-level personal information.

As part of last week’s settlement, Facebook said it would create a new advertising portal for ads linked to housing and employment that would limit targeting options for advertisers. It also 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 government charge said 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,” Department Secretary Ben Carson said.

The charge will be heard by a judge who can award damages for harm caused by the discrimination, along with fines, injunctions and other relief.