Mike Huckabee’s Lawsuit Against Meta Dismissed: CBD Ad Controversy Explained

Former Arkansas Governor’s Lawsuit Against Meta Dismissed

In a recent ruling, U.S. District Judge Gregory Williams dismissed a lawsuit filed by former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee against Meta, the parent company of Facebook. The lawsuit alleged unauthorized use of Huckabee’s name and image in advertisements for CBD products on Meta’s platforms.

Huckabee claimed that Meta profited from false endorsements of CBD gummies using his likeness. In response, Meta invoked Section 230 of the Federal Communication Decency Act, arguing for immunity from liability for third-party content on their platforms.

Judge Williams, while rejecting Meta’s claim of immunity under Section 230, ultimately dismissed the lawsuit. The court found Huckabee’s claims of invasion of privacy, unjust enrichment, and violation of Arkansas’ Publicity Protection Act to be invalid.

The ruling acknowledged Meta’s role as an “information content provider,” noting the company’s involvement in data collection and algorithmic content placement. However, Judge Williams emphasized the lack of evidence suggesting Meta knew the advertisements were fake.

A key factor in the dismissal was Huckabee’s failure to prove Meta’s knowledge or reckless disregard for the truthfulness of the advertisements. The judge highlighted that Meta had no obligation to conduct due diligence on the veracity of ads, concluding there was no reasonable inference of Meta’s doubt about the ad claims.

This case underscores the ongoing challenges in holding social media platforms accountable for third-party content. It raises important questions about the extent of Section 230 protections and reflects the broader legal debates surrounding platform responsibility and user-generated content in the digital age.