Last week, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) filed a complaint against Facebook, claiming its targeted advertising platform allowed real estate companies to discriminate against renters and buyers based on their race, color, religion, sex, family status, national origin, and other factors. Essentially, advertisers could choose to promote their content to certain groups and exclude others.
This week, Facebook responded by removing thousands of ad target options to “help prevent misuse,” according to the company. For example, the social media giant eliminated advertisers’ ability to exclude audiences with certain ethnic or religious backgrounds.
The National Association of Realtors (NAR) supports HUD’s enforcement of the Fair Housing Act and its complaint against Facebook. In a statement, Association President Elizabeth Mendenhall said NAR “commends the Department of Housing and Urban Development and Secretary Ben Carson for taking decisive action to defend fair housing laws, and for working to ensure its intended consumer protections extend to wherever real estate is marketed.”
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