Baltimore lawyer Barry Glazer has launched a federal lawsuit against Meta and Google for enabling a shadowy network of squatters who illegally occupy and rent vacant properties through social media platforms.
Key Takeaways
- Baltimore attorney Barry Glazer filed a proposed class-action lawsuit in U.S. District Court for Maryland against Meta and Google over online squatter networks.
- The lawsuit claims these tech giants enable illegal property rentals through Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube by failing to enforce anti-fraud regulations.
- These illegal squatter operations increase liability, maintenance costs, and extend vacancies for legitimate real estate companies.
- The schemes involve offering unauthorized keys and tours of illegally accessed properties, sometimes explicitly advertised as “squatter houses.”
- Glazer co-owns a real estate firm with Gina Gargue, both claiming direct business harm from these illicit activities.
Tech Giants Enabling Property Crimes
Baltimore lawyer Barry Glazer has taken legal action against Meta and Google, filing a proposed class-action lawsuit in U.S. District Court for Maryland. The suit alleges these technology companies enable illegal “squatter” networks to flourish on their platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. According to court documents, these networks brazenly advertise and sell unauthorized access to vacant properties, creating a parallel illegal rental market that undermines legitimate property owners and threatens lawful commerce.
The lawsuit details how these schemes operate with surprising openness on social media platforms. Operators illegally access vacant properties, then offer keys and tours to unsuspecting victims who believe they’re entering legitimate rental agreements. Some listings are even explicitly marketed as “squatter houses,” showing the brazen nature of these operations. The tech companies are accused of failing to implement sufficient oversight measures to prevent these clearly illegal activities from proliferating on their platforms.
“I can’t believe they’re getting away with it,” Said Barry Glazer, the Baltimore lawyer who filed the lawsuit. “It’s going on everywhere.”
Real Estate Industry Impact
Glazer and his business partner Gina Gargeu, co-owners of a real estate firm, claim these illegal activities directly harm their business operations and profits. When squatters illegally occupy properties, legitimate real estate companies face increased liability and unexpected maintenance costs. The properties often suffer damage during these unauthorized occupations, requiring extensive repairs before they can be properly marketed and sold to legitimate buyers.
The eviction process presents another significant burden for property owners. Legal eviction proceedings are costly and time-consuming, extending the period during which properties remain vacant and unsold. This directly impacts the bottom line of real estate companies, depriving them of sales income and forcing them to carry additional costs. These financial burdens are especially significant in urban areas like Baltimore, where property management already faces numerous challenges, According to The Court Documentation.
Legal Arguments and Broader Implications
The lawsuit centers on the responsibility of tech platforms to police illegal activity conducted through their services. Glazer argues that Meta and Google have been “blatantly” negligent in allowing these squatter networks to operate, despite their clear violation of property laws. The suit potentially establishes an important precedent regarding the accountability of social media companies for illegal activities facilitated through their platforms, especially those involving property crimes.
This case comes amid growing nationwide concerns about squatting and property rights. The Trump administration has signaled strong support for property owners’ rights and has criticized tech companies for insufficient oversight of their platforms. The outcome of this case could influence how social media companies monitor and regulate content related to property transactions, potentially forcing more stringent verification processes for rental listings and property-related advertisements.
In addition to the squatter house lawsuit, Glazer is simultaneously pursuing separate legal action regarding Facebook Marketplace’s role in facilitating counterfeit coin sales, further highlighting the broader issues of fraud and illegal commerce on social media platforms. These combined legal efforts represent a significant challenge to the tech giants’ current operating practices and could lead to substantial changes in online marketplace regulation.
