Meta over what he said were thousands of scam cryptocurrency advertisements on Facebook that feature his face.
The decision is a setback for Forrest, the 37% owner of iron ore producer Fortescue Metals Group and Australia's second-richest person, in his quest to hold the internet giant accountable for the ads. A separate civil lawsuit he has filed against Meta over the ads in California is ongoing.
A spokesperson for the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions said on Friday that the department had found there was insufficient evidence to continue the prosecution, but did not elaborate.
Forrest has accused Meta of breaking Australia's anti-money laundering laws by allowing third-party scammers to use its software and platform to advertise fake cryptocurrency schemes that feature photos of his face, leading people to believe he had endorsed them.
He had pursued the lawsuit under Australian laws that allow an individual to criminally prosecute a foreign corporation with the consent of the attorney general.
Forrest said in a statement that the decision to dismiss the case was «a tragedy for innocent parents and grandparents who have lost their life savings.»
A Meta spokesperson said scams were a complex threat,