Warsaw has accused the social media giant behind Facebook and Instagram of failing to do enough to remove fraudulent ads Online scammers are not just “two guys in an internet cafe” but sophisticated organized crime groups with global reach, Meta’s global head of security policy and counter-fraud has told TVP World, as the social media giant faces growing pressure from Polish authorities over fraudulent advertisements. Nathaniel Gleicher said Meta had removed 3.7 million Facebook accounts in a recent international operation targeting scam networks based in West Africa. The effort involved around 14 companies and 10 law enforcement agencies, he said. Artificial intelligence is helping scammers operate at scale, but it is also giving platforms better tools to detect fraud, Gleicher said. A new system being tested in Poland and several other countries has detected 50% more instances of celebrity impersonation than its predecessor. He also said user reports of scam advertisements in Poland had fallen by 83% over the past two years, while Meta plans to require identity verification for everyone using its platforms to advertise financial services in the country. The comments come as the Polish government seeks a €250 million fine against Meta over alleged failures to remove fraudulent ads. Gleicher said the company took rapid action on content reported through official channels, but acknowledged that more work was needed. He urged users to slow down when approached by unfamiliar accounts, while stressing that preventing fraud was not solely their responsibility. “We shouldn't make it the consumers' responsibility to keep themselves safe from scams,” he said. “The platforms have a key role in this.”
Nathaniel Gleicher said that user reports of scam advertisements in Poland had fallen by 83% over the past two years. (TVP World)
