Facebook sued over social ads

Facebook Inc, the world’s most popular social-networking site, was sued for not getting parents’ permission before displaying that minors “like” the products of its advertisers.

The lawsuit seeks class-action status on behalf of Facebook users in New York state under the age of 18 who had “their names or likenesses used on a Facebook feed or in an advertisement sold by Facebook Inc. without the consent of their parent or guardian.”

Facebook began offering “social ads,” which display the names and likenesses of users’ Facebook friends who click on the ads’ “like” button, in November 2007, according to the complaint. The names or likenesses are also displayed to friends when a user RSVPs for an advertised event, according to the complaint. The endorsements also show up on Facebook friends’ home-page feeds.

The suit was filed by Justin Nastro, a minor in Brooklyn, through his father, Frank Nastro. Facebook doesn’t seek parents’ permission for the minor users’ endorsements, according to the complaint.