On July 24, 2025, the D.C. Superior Court issued a ruling wholly denying Meta’s motion to dismiss a lawsuit filed by the Equal Rights Center (ERC), represented the Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs and co-counsel Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law and Emery Celli Brinckerhoff Abady Ward & Maazel LLP.   

The lawsuit, filed on February 11, 2025, alleges that Meta’s advertising system disproportionately steers ads for for-profit colleges and universities to Black people while disproportionately steering ads for public nonprofit colleges and universities to white users—a violation of the D.C. Human Rights Act and D.C. Consumer Protection Procedure Act. The court’s denial of Meta’s motion to dismiss allows ERC to move forward in challenging these discriminatory practices. 

“All students deserve an equal shot at discovering educational opportunities that will help them thrive,” says Kaitlin Banner, Deputy Legal Director at the Washington Lawyers’ Committee.  “The decision denying Meta’s Motion to Dismiss ensures that District residents can fight back against algorithmic discrimination that would limit their opportunities.”  

We’re proud to represent the Equal Rights Center as we fight for equal treatment in all spaces, including digital. 

Read the full press release here.

Read the complaint here. 

Read the Motion to Dismiss opinion here.