Miami, Florida, Feb. 03, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In March of 2019, the Trump administration delivered a sanction against the tech giant Facebook, charging the company with housing discrimination. The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) alleged that Facebook violated the Fair Housing Act by "encouraging, enabling, and causing" prejudice by limiting those who could view housing advertisements.
While some companies were concerned that this move would threaten the way that the industry makes its profits, it was a sign that more companies would be involved in the investigation. HUD alerted both Google and Twitter in 2018 that it was studying both platforms for various discriminatory violations, according to three sources who knew of inside knowledge within the companies.
This case was significant because it shook waves in the tech industry, which considers targeted advertising to be standard practice. The industry has traditionally enjoyed immunity from being singled out and prosecuted when third parties commit abuses on their platforms.
In the complaint, HUD alleged that Facebook extensively extracts users' data. They also claimed that the company uses attributes typically protected by law- including race, gender, nationality, familial status, and disability- to determine who could see housing advertisements, even when it was not the original intention of the advertiser.
With this information, a potential landlord could exclude specific categories of renters, including the vision and hearing impaired, from finding or renting from them. HUD Secretary Ben Carson said that now using a computer to find housing while being discriminated against can be just as jarring as getting a door slammed in a face.
These charges came one week after Facebook agreed to overhaul targeted advertising systems after allegations that landlords, lenders, and employers were using the online platform to discriminate against individuals. For years, advocates of civil rights have warned Facebook that their advertisements have violated anti-discrimination laws. Advertisers were able to exclude certain groups of people, including minorities, those with disabilities, and others.
A Facebook spokesperson said that the company was surprised by HUD's decision, as Facebook had been working with them to address concerns and prevent discrimination. However, the spokesperson went on to add that the company was not comfortable sharing complete access to its user base with the government and HUD, as they believe it would set a dangerous precedent. "While we are eager to find a solution, HUD insisted on access to sensitive information... without adequate safeguards," they said. They went on to express that while the company was disappointed with the resolution, they will continue to work with civil rights experts on these issues.
Dealing with complicated data requests from the governments is complex for Facebook and other large technology companies. Companies fear that when they comply with such requests, it could do damage to their reputations, as well as violate data privacy laws.
However, officials at HUD say that Facebook's settlement with the National Fair Housing Alliance, the Communication Workers of America, the American Civil Liberties Union, and others did not do enough for housing discrimination. A HUD spokesperson said that until HUD could verify that Facebook's practices are in full compliance with the law, that they would continue to use all resources at their disposal to protect Americans from the harmful effects of discrimination.
If a U.S. administrative judge finds that unlawful discrimination did occur, the judge could award damages or impose fines, according to HUD officials. If the matter is brought to federal court, then a judge could also award punitive damages. HUD also requested that a judge require Facebook employees to attend training relating to the Fair Housing Act's prohibitions against discrimination in advertising.
Legal Justice Advocates
At Legal Justice Advocates, attorneys draw upon their combined experience of more than 40 years of expertise to enforce their clients' rights when it comes to disability discrimination online, in real estate, in the workplace, and other essential aspects of life. The law firm understands that as technology becomes more ingrained in our everyday lives, a large portion of society has been cut off and denied fair access to online resources.
Studies undertaken by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that about 3,400,000 individuals in the United States over 40 years of age are blind or severely visually impaired. These numbers do not include those who have not been tested, as well as those who have not reported their disabilities.
As the average age in this country continues to climb, the number of people with visual impairments will continue to soar. The internet, for the most part, is a visual tool. Visually limited individuals cannot begin to access large portions that are not designed for them. Legal Justice Advocates believes that these individuals should not be denied society's principal means of communication and access to information.
To make the internet accessible to all, the Web Accessibility Initiative initiated the use of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines. These guidelines now serve as a set of technical guidelines and were developed to provide a single, shared standard that meets the needs of multiple organizations, companies, and governments.
The attorneys and staff at Legal Justice Advocates maintain that they work tirelessly on behalf of the visually impaired and other individuals with disabilities to ensure that all places of public accommodation adopt these guidelines covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Legal Justice Advocates states that they work to ensure that you or your loved one has equal access to the public accommodations and information afforded to non-disabled citizens, as was intended when Congress wrote these particular and complex laws.
The law firm wants individuals who have been discriminated against in housing situations to understand their rights under fair housing laws. The most common forms of discrimination, being race and disability, are protected under the Federal Fair Housing Act. Most state laws also make these kinds of discrimination completely illegal. Legal Justice Advocates states that tenants should consider their options.
Tenants, both prospective and current, have several ways to fight unlawful discrimination. Options include negotiating a settlement with a landlord (perhaps with a mediator's help) and filing a complaint with a government fair housing agency that may result in a resolution agreement between a landlord and tenant.
Legal Justice Advocates notes that tenants should evaluate the strength of their cases. The more serious harm that has been suffered, the more likely a tenant is to win their case. Also, the law firm suggests that tenants determine their goals. If a tenant wants a landlord to rent them a particular apartment, then they might find that filing a complaint with a fair housing agency is the best route to go. One result could include the tenant dropping their charge in exchange for the landlord's written agreement to rent them that apartment.
Finally, Legal Justice Advocates wants potential clients to understand what is involved in suing their landlord. A lawsuit may be filed in state or federal court. If a case is strong and can get a quick order from a judge, it may be speedy, but other times, some cases take years to settle.
Discrimination can take a severe toll on the individuals it affects, from limiting housing opportunities to causing substantial psychological stress. Legal Justice Advocates stresses that they listen to the needs of their clients so that they can seek the forms of remedy and compensation that are fitting to each experience. They urge those with a complaint to contact them or schedule an appointment today.