SEATTLE (Legal Newsline) – Washington State alleges that social media company Facebook has failed to maintain for public inspection documents related to political advertising.
The state of Washington filed a complaint on June 4 in the State of Washington King County Superior Court against Facebook Inc. seeking injunctive relief.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff alleges since 2008, candidates and political committees were required to file disclosure reports of payments related to political advertising on Facebook's platform with the Public Disclosure Commission. The plaintiff alleges Facebook did not obtain or maintain information required under Washington State law of commercial advertisers, including names and addresses from persons Facebook accepted political advertising. Since 2013, the plaintiff alleges Facebook has failed to make these records open for inspection during normal business hours.
The plaintiff seeks relief for such remedies as the court may deem proper, including but not limited to imposition of a civil penalty, all costs including reasonable attorneys' fees, and temporary and permanent injunctive relief. It is represented by Linda A. Dalton and S. Todd Sipe of the Washington State Attorney General's Office in Washington.
State of Washington King County Superior Court case number 18-2-14129-0