Tesla CEO calls out Meta’s advertising practices, suggesting discrepancies in conversion attribution and potential lawsuit.
Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has taken aim at Meta, the parent company of Facebook, over what he alleges are misleading advertising practices and censorship issues. Musk’s criticism comes amidst growing concerns over the accuracy of ad attribution on Meta’s platforms and its approach to content moderation.
In a recent online exchange, Musk responded to claims made by users of his microblogging platform, X, regarding discrepancies in ad conversion attribution between X and Meta. Users reported that despite running campaigns on both platforms, a significant majority of conversions were attributed to Meta, with X reporting minimal impact. Musk echoed these sentiments, labeling Meta as “super greedy” for wrongfully claiming credit for conversions that occurred on X.
“It’s clear that Meta is taking undue credit for ad conversions, while neglecting the contributions made by platforms like X,” Musk stated. He hinted at the possibility of a major class-action lawsuit against Meta for what he perceives as false claims regarding ad attribution.
The issue of attribution accuracy has raised concerns among advertisers, with some noticing a decline in results on Meta’s platforms. Musk’s followers suggested that Meta needs to revise its attribution model to reflect the reality of ad conversions more accurately. Meanwhile, they commended X for its commitment to refining its attribution model to provide better outcomes for advertisers.
Beyond advertising, Musk also criticized Meta’s approach to content moderation, contrasting it with X’s stance on free speech. A post highlighting Meta’s quick takedown of content compared to X’s policy of upholding freedom of speech caught Musk’s attention. The post underscored Meta’s control over various social media platforms, including Threads, Instagram, Facebook, Messenger, and WhatsApp, all owned by the company.
“Only X resisted censoring your voice,” Musk emphasized, signaling his support for platforms that prioritize free expression.
The clash between Musk and Meta underscores broader debates surrounding online advertising practices and content moderation. As social media platforms continue to wield significant influence over public discourse and advertising revenue, questions regarding transparency, accuracy, and freedom of speech remain paramount.
Meta has yet to respond to Musk’s accusations publicly. However, the controversy highlights the need for greater transparency and accountability in the digital advertising industry, as well as the importance of platforms respecting users’ rights to express themselves freely online.
As the discourse around online platforms evolves, stakeholders will likely continue to scrutinize the practices of tech giants like Meta, with Musk’s outspoken criticism serving as a reminder of the ongoing tensions between corporate interests and user empowerment.
