A giant in the social-media world will challenge a B.C. court ruling certifying a class-action lawsuit.

Yesterday, B.C. Supreme Court Justice Susan Griffin upheld the application by lawyer Christopher Rhone on behalf of plaintiff Deborah Louise Douez.

She has claimed that Facebook violated B.C. privacy legislation by including her in sponsored stories after she clicked a "like" button for products or services.

"There is evidence showing some basis in fact for the plaintiff's assertion that Facebook used the names or portraits of BC residents who were Facebook users without their consent in advertisements called Sponsored Stories," Griffin wrote in her ruling.

In an email to Canadian Press, Facebook has claimed that the lawsuit "has no merit" and that it will be appealed.

According to Griffin's decision, the class includes all B.C. residents who've been members of Facebook at any time between January 1, 2011, to May 30, 2014.

They have to have either registered under their real name or used their authentic portrait during that period. And their name or portrait must have appeared in a sponsored story on Facebook.