Facebook Beats Advertisers’ False-Click Claims, For Now

Facebook Inc. won dismissal of a proposed class action alleging it charged advertisers on its social media platform for invalid clicks on their ads, after the Northern District of California found the plaintiffs didn’t allege they relied on any misrepresentation by the company.

To pursue a misrepresentation claim under California business code, plaintiffs must allege they relied on the misrepresentation and suffered economic injury as a result of that reliance, the court said.

The complaint alleges that Facebook misrepresented that it wouldn’t charge advertisers “for clicks that are determined to be invalid.” The complaint purports to bring claims on behalf ...