Rhode Island Sues Meta Over Profiting From Scam Ads

Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha filed a lawsuit against Meta Platforms in Providence Superior Court on October 22, 2026. The complaint alleges that Meta unlawfully profited from billions of dollars in scam advertising on Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, specifically targeting vulnerable users and the elderly. Neronha claims the company used AI tools to help scammers optimize marketing and earned approximately 10% of its 2024 revenue from fraudulent ads.

Meta has denied the allegations, describing the lawsuit as unfounded. Company spokesperson Andy Stone stated that Meta has removed more than 159 million scam ads over the past year and accused the attorney general of refusing to engage in collaborative ways to protect residents from scams.

This legal action follows a series of significant financial penalties for the technology company, including a $25 billion judgment in New Mexico regarding data privacy and an $18 billion settlement with several U.S. states over claims related to child addiction.