Meta Defends Ad Account Suspension in Bombay High Court
Meta argues in court that it disabled an Indian agency's ad accounts over policy violations, while the Philippines House passes a bill to restrict minors' social media access.
A legal battle in India reveals Meta's reasons for suspending a major advertising partner's accounts, citing alleged policy breaches. Meanwhile, Philippine lawmakers have passed a new bill aimed at creating stricter online safety rules for children and teenagers.
Meta's Court Arguments
Meta Platforms Inc. told the Bombay High Court on October 12 that it disabled four Business Manager accounts belonging to Blink Digital India. The company's counsel argued before Justice Sandeep V Marne that Blink attracted advertisers by offering "limitless spend" beyond Meta's usual credit limits and permitted ads promoting scams and sexual services, which violate both platform policy and Indian law.
Meta also challenged the court's jurisdiction, asserting that an exclusive clause in its Commercial Terms requires disputes to be heard in California under Californian law. The company contended that its US entity, not Facebook India Online Services, manages the accounts in question. The hearing was adjourned to October 13 after Meta sought time to file a note explaining its contract hierarchy. Blink Digital is seeking account restoration, a declaration that Meta's actions were arbitrary, and damages of Rs 1,158 crore. The court registry has raised procedural objections to the damages claim, asking Blink to explain its calculation of lost future profits.
Philippine Social Media Restrictions
The Philippine House of Representatives passed the Safe and Friendly Environment for Kids in Digital Spaces Act with 287 votes in favor and three against. The bill prohibits children under the age of 13 from creating social media accounts and imposes various restrictions on users under 18. This legislative action follows several incidents of school violence that authorities have linked to online content.
For minors under 18, the proposed law bars online purchases and engagement with "gambling-like mechanisms." It also aims to shield them from harmful advertisements and algorithmic short-video feeds designed for endless scrolling. The Philippines, with over 102 million Facebook accounts, is a heavy user of social media. The House bill now faces a legislative showdown with a slightly stricter Senate version that proposes a ban on minors under 18 from registering on any age-restricted platform. The move aligns the country with a global trend, following similar restrictions enacted in Australia, Indonesia, and Malaysia.
