Facebook posting ads encouraging people to sue the NHS

By Chris Bovey

Facebook has been condemned for running adverts during the Coronavirus crisis encouraging people to sue the British National Health Service.

The tech giant which likes to promote an image that its platform is about creating communities. When you log in you will see a message pop up from Facebook offering advice about the COVID-19 crisis.

That’s not all you’ll see, as Facebook makes its money from bombarding its users with targeted adverts. We know from the Cambridge Analytica scandal Mark Zuckerberg is not too fussy who he takes money from.

This was demonstrated by the appearance of ads on Facebook feeds inviting people to get a free claim assessment from vultures offering their services to sue the NHS.

I spoke to a senior NHS nurse, who asked to remain anonymous, what he thought of these adverts.

“Whilst my colleagues are facing the toughest challenges of their lives, challenges which will cost some of them their lives, meanwhile Facebook allows adverts for people who want to take desperately needed cash from our NHS. Parasites.”

Billionaires cashing in on COVID-19

Mark Zuckerberg is not the only billionaire who doesn’t have a problem with people suing the National Health Service. Back in 2016, Richard Branson, successfully sued the NHS – pocketing £2 million of public money in the process.

Branson, whose net worth is estimated to be in the region of £5.5 billion, recently came under fire for telling his workers to take eight weeks unpaid leave during the Coronavirus outbreak. He even had the cheek to ask the government to bail out his airline, despite the fact he is a notorious tax dodger who keeps his money in offshore tax havens.

Branson has asked the British government for a £500 million bailout of for his airline, Virgin Atlantic.

However, many have suggested the government shouldn’t consider bailing out a man who has paid the exchequer no personal income tax since moving to the tax-free British Virgin Islands 14 years ago.

If Branson were in Denmark or Poland he wouldn’t get his greedy grubby hands on a penny of taxpayers’ money, as their governments have banned bailouts to companies registered in offshore tax havens. Hopefully, the British government will do the same, but I’m not holding my breath, they look after the 1%.

Offensive

As well as offensive sponsored posts encouraging people to sue the NHS, several macabre ads have appeared on Facebook offering Will making services. You know, just in case one of your loved ones unexpectedly dies from COVID-19.

Fraudulent ads for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) have also been popping up in Facebook feeds. One family even complained their identities had been stolen for a company selling a protective mask that claimed to have saved the youngest son in a family of five from COVID-19.

“It was sickening and it was violating,” said Sara Ancich, 45, of Orange County, California, after seeing the ad for the first time Sunday.

In 2017 Mark Zuckerberg said, “It’s not enough to simply connect the world, we must also work to bring the world closer together.”

That is a very odd way of bringing the world closer together, making money from fraudsters and parasites. Not to mention banning people in error from using Facebook while much of the world is in doing their bit for the community by observing social isolation and staying indoors.

I’d love to share this on Facebook, but it would almost certainly get me another ban.

Have you been Zuked for no good reason?

Meanwhile, Facebook removed obvious satire, while they were happy to sponsor PPE scams and companies who specialise in suing the NHS.

5G conspiracies

Facebook removed a post mocking 5G conspiracy theories promoted by loonies like David Icke and Alex Jones. One user was given 24-hour-ban for allegedly posting misinformation that could cause physical harm.

Facebook takes down an obvious satirical meme poking fun at daft 5G conspiracies proving Facebook is batshit crazy.

Chris Bovey is a businessman, writer, artist, musician and practical joker. He lives in Devon with his partner, two children and cat. You can follow him on Facebook or Twitter @ADHD_BadBoy.