Lawsuit: Facebook lied about video metrics, misled advertisers

Facebook knowingly cashed in on exaggerated metrics for video, according to documents from a class action lawsuit, at the same time the company’s increased emphasis on video inspired major news and sports media outlets to pivot coverage strategy to include more video content.

The small group of advertisers behind the lawsuit allege the social media giant misreported and then covered up inflated video metrics that it used to convince its biggest advertisers of its value. In the complaint filed Tuesday, the plaintiffs claim Facebook “either knew that the average viewership metrics it was reporting was false or reported those metrics recklessly and without regard for their truth.”