Facebook denies its targeted advertising is racist

Earlier today we reported about allegations from ProPublica that Facebook is engaged in what appears to be racist ad targeting by excluding based on 'ethnic affinity'. Facebook, predictably, refutes these claims. Firing up full-on defensive mode, Facebook says that its users benefit from targeted content that is more relevant them. To use the company's marketing spiel, this is "especially critical for people who choose to affiliate with ethnic communities". Far from being racist, this exclusion targeting technique is actually used to avoid causing offense, says Facebook. See also: Facebook accused of using racist 'ethnic affinity' ad targeting In a blog… [Continue Reading]