Advertising: Facebook attacked for lack of parental control

Yet another complaint has been filed against Facebook in the US. The father of a family has criticised the social network for not requiring parental authorisation when a child states that they like an advertisement.

It’s a rather daring move. In the United States, the father of a teenager living in Brooklyn has filed legal proceedings against Facebook, accusing the social network of using children’s names and their tastes (Like button) in advertising without parental authorisation being given.

Scott Nastro doesn’t want all Facebook people to know that his son liked an ad. His lawyers have opened a class action for all Facebook members younger than 18 who are in the same case. It shouldn’t be forgotten that you have to be at least 13 to subscribe to Facebook.

According to New York legislation, companies are prevented from using the name or a photograph of a person in advertising without their agreement. Facebook declared to the AFP that the case was "completely unfounded". "We will vigorously fight this charge". It should be noted that the filing also attacked the fact that minors were displayed through Facebook’s Friend search function.

"Some advertising in Facebook integrates the social interaction functions like the Like button”, explains Facebook in their Confidentiality Guide. "When you indicate that you like a company and this company broadcasts an advertisement on Facebook, we can associate your name and profile photo when it is displayed in the pages seen by your friends".

"Facebook seems to be continually looking for new ways of using the names and profiles of their members, including children, for their targeted ads” declared the plaintiffs’ lawyer.