Ad Agency Sues Meta for $120 Million Over Disabled Ad Accounts

Indian advertising firm Blink Digital has filed a lawsuit against Meta and its Indian subsidiary, Facebook India Online Services Private Limited, at the Bombay High Court. The agency is seeking compensation of around ₹1,000 crore (approximately $120 million USD) and the restoration of four Meta Business Manager accounts, which it alleges were improperly disabled by the social media giant.

The complaint, filed on September 17, highlights the critical role Meta Business Manager plays for agencies like Blink Digital. This platform serves as a central dashboard for managing client Facebook Pages, Instagram accounts, ad accounts, and other digital assets. The disabling of these accounts reportedly halted advertising campaigns and led to the loss of access to essential advertising management tools.

Meta has been granted two weeks to file a reply to Blink Digital's interim application, with the agency given a further week for a rejoinder. The case is scheduled for a hearing on October 12. Blink Digital, founded in 2009, has worked with numerous prominent brands, including KFC, ITC, and Puma, on various digital marketing initiatives.

This legal action adds to the growing scrutiny Meta faces in India. The company has recently been under regulatory pressure regarding issues of child sexual abuse material on its platforms and faced a copyright infringement lawsuit from media company Zee. These cases underscore the complex regulatory and legal landscape for major technology platforms operating in India.