The ACLU filed a complaint against Facebook on Tuesday for allegedly letting employers use its platform to post job ads that discriminate against some job-seekers.
The ACLU and labor union Communications Workers of America say 10 other employers mentioned in the complaint excluded women, non-binary people and older men by using Facebook's ad targeting system to advertise job openings only to younger men. The ACLU says this violates federal civil rights laws prohibiting sex and age discrimination in employment.
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission complaint was filed on behalf of three women who claim they were not shown ads for jobs in male-dominated fields despite their qualifications. Some of the job postings included mechanic, tire salesperson and security engineer.
The ACLU says it found out by using the "Why am I seeing this ad?" Facebook tool, which showed the accused employers' job postings specifically targeted men. The ACLU says this not only limited qualified women from breaking into male-dominated fields, but also shut them out of related opportunities.
A Facebook spokesperson told CNN discrimination is "strictly prohibited in [its] policies" and that the company will defend its practices once it reviews the complaint. He added Facebook will soon require all advertisers to comply with its own anti-discrimination policies and the law.
Additional reporting from Newsy affiliate CNN.
