NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) – Facebook is alleged to have censored a post advertising an online summit about medical marijuana and the cannabis industry.
Cannaramic Media LLC and Felicia Palmer filed a complaint on June 4 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York against Facebook Inc. alleging common law fraud and other counts.
The suit states Palmer founded Cannaramic Media, an organization described in the suit as one that furthers national and international discussion of health, scientific research and political concerns surrounding cannabis.
The plaintiffs allege on May 12, they posted information on Facebook about their Cannaramic Online Summit scheduled for later that month and Facebook sent a digital alert to Palmer stating that she could "boost" the post for a fee to promote it. Palmer alleges she paid to have the post promoted to a certain demographic area for adults older than 25.
Palmer alleges Facebook rejected the post and did not promote it across the platform, citing that the post contained prohibited content and violated Facebook policy. The suit states she appealed the rejection, Facebook then approved it but it still did not appear across the platform.
The plaintiffs allege their post was censored.
The plaintiffs are seeking trial by jury and relief deemed fit. The plaintiffs are represented by the Law Offices of David Clifford Holland PC in New York.
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York case number 1:19-CV-05215