Suing Facebook for Fun and Profit?

We all know Facebook is anti-Conservative, and they are doing a variety of underhanded things to remove Conservative voices from their "unbiased" platform. Well, they got me a couple of weeks ago --- in a new and interesting way.

One of my totally apolitical posts on my Business Facebook page "went viral" to my surprise. Yes, I post political messages all the time on my Political page, that started out as my Campaign page in 2012. The viral post was on a different Business page, and about a cat.

So, I get this message from Facebook: "You can't publish as your page right now. Because you manage one or more Pages with high potential reach, we're requiring you to complete two-factor authentication."

This has effectively locked me out of all my Pages. "Two-factor authentication" requires me to use a Google App and/or provide my smart cell phone number to Facebook so that Google and/or Facebook can associate my phone number with my accounts (to collect and compile more data). Just one problem --- I don't own or use a smart phone, only an emergency flip phone that doesn't ring or take messages.

I have repeatedly told Facebook that I don't have a smart cell phone, and their reply is to send me a canned answer as to how to do this on my smart cell phone. No help at all, and no budging.

Facebook can not require me to own or use a smart cell phone in order to use their platform --- it does not appear anywhere in their agreement. Also, requiring a smart cell phone to use the Facebook platform could be construed as age or socioeconomic discrimination.

I filed an FTC Complaint against Facebook for Restraint of Trade. I think this is a legitimate avenue to hit Facebook on Restraint of Trade grounds --- and then perhaps move on from there.

Colonel, you’re tilting at windmills. If it makes you feel better - if it gives you something to do as you flail away at Facebook, then go for it.

Enjoy yourself.

Just know you will get nowhere with your efforts.

The best we can hope for is if/when Facebook is declared a monopoly, and is compelled under federal law to stop their discriminatory actions.

DEMAND AN INDEPENDENT AUDIT OF YOUR ACCOUNTS: specify that copies of audits are to be provided to federal and state governments, the SEC, the FCC, investors, including banking, legal oversight agencies, liability companies and other oversight agencies, and officials of the state and federal government deemed stakeholders in the resultant financial accounti

According to the Association of CPA’s, an audit is a systematic and independent examination of books, accounts, statutory records, documents and vouchers of an organization (non-profit or publicly-held) to ascertain authenticity of financial statements as well as non-financial disclosures and to cod ify that the account presents a true and fair view of the issues at hand.

An audit also attempts to ensure that the account is properly maintained as required by federal and state law. The auditor perceives and recognises the issues, and conducts a examination, obtains evidence, evaluates the same, and formulates an opinion on the basis of informed judgement which is communicated through an audit report.

Issues such as soliciting subscribers, collecting fees for service, billing procedures, and the detailed reporting of these issues. This includes the federal government, state government, the SEC, Banking oversight agencies, ERISA, insurance and other liability companies.

Areas commonly audited include: compliance audits, internal controls, quality management, project management, and collection and disposition of public monies. As a result of an audit, principles and stake-holders may effectively evaluate and improve the effectiveness of risk management, control, for the edification of the relevant federal and state governance agencies and taxpayers with a financial stake in the subject matter.

Financial audits are commonly performed to ascertain the validity and reliability of information, as well as to provide an assessment of a system’s internal control. As a result of this, each party can have an accounting given on financial statements based on on the audit evidence obtained.

Due to constraints and limitations that might be placed on the auditor, an audit seeks to provide reasonable assurance that the statements are free from material error. In the case of financial audits, a set of financial statements are said to be true and fair when they are free of material misstatements – a concept influenced by both quantitative (numerical) and qualitative factors.

On a related note:

Donald Trump (though pragmatically, Twitter, as they are the platform control) was successfully sued so that he cannot block any followers because of violations of the 1st Amendment. By that token, anyone who’s been banned from Twitter who has not violated First Amendment tenets (no threats, etc.) should be able to sue for the EXACT SAME REASON. Not just for being banned by politicians but ANY reason with regard to first amendment privilege.

One of my pet peeves or running battles with Facebook is that their advertising policy is absolutely devoid of logic and feedback.

For example, there are two products that I have seen advertised on Facebook. Both were illegal products. One was a bike helmet that had a flashing headlight. Washington State law prohibits such flashing forward lights, except if authorized on emergency vehicles. The State law states that a flashing rear red light is allowed on bicycles. One of the major local bicycle clubs prohibits any (front or rear) flashing lights to be used on any of its group rides.

Another example is a plastic gas can spout that defeats the anti-spill spring-loaded feature of new gas can spouts. The new spouts were developed to comply with new National Fire Protection Association Standards, which are adopted by most State's as laws for that State. OSHA also has regulations for gas cans used by businesses. Yes, they are a pain, but they comply with laws.

I commented on both these ads I saw that the seller should notify potential customers that their products might be illegal. My comments were quickly deleted by the seller. Later, I reported the advertisement to Facebook, but because it is not sexual in nature, it is not hate speech, it is not an infringement of a licensed product I own, all I can say is it should be removed because of “other.” No where in the Facebook reporting system is one allowed to state “why” the product should be removed. The AI system that Facebook uses looks at “Other” looks at the ad and determines no sexual content, no hate speech, etc. and allows it to continue.

Facebook also really makes it hard to send any kind of meaningful feedback.

There are selling advertising to generate money and don't seem to care if the products are illegal or not.

App is short for application software. Apps are usually associated with smart phones. Most apps will not run on a flip phone as it is too simple of a platform. Note that both flip phones and smart phones are “cell” phones based on cellular technology.

There are lots of applications: Quicken is one, as are Word, Excel, etc. Apps originally were written for PC type computers running Windows and other operating systems but are now written for smart phones as well.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.