Law Firm Targets Facebook Users Who ‘Like’ Festivals To Advertise Drug Services

A group of people standing with their arms raised at a concert

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If you've 'liked' a festival on Facebook, this law firm has probably targeted you as a potential drug user.




If you are an 18- to 40-year-old living in metropolitan Sydney who has “liked” music festivals and clubbing on Facebook, you may have been identified by a Sydney law firm as a potential drug user.

Using Facebook’s targeted advertising, Ly Lawyers promotes criminal law services to a potential pool of young drug users who share their interest in music and clubbing on Facebook.

“Busted with possession or supply of drugs at a festival? Call Sydney’s best drug lawyers!”, one advertisement says, accompanied by a picture of a hand chopping up a white powder.

The advertising ran for days after Sydney’s music festival Field Day, where police made a record 214 arrests for possession of illegal drugs including ecstasy, cocaine, ice and cannabis.

Facebook allows businesses to target their advertisements by different locations, page “likes” and demographic factors such as age, gender, relationship status, education and workplace.

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