Meta is gearing up for a significant trial as it faces legal action over alleged child safety violations on its platforms. The trial, set to begin on Tuesday in Oakland, California, involves a lawsuit filed by numerous states accusing Meta of unlawfully collecting data on users under 13 without parental consent. The trial is anticipated to last around six weeks, with Meta’s CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Instagram head Adam Mosseri potentially called to testify.
The lawsuit, filed almost three years ago by a coalition of states, alleges that Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Messenger, Instagram, and WhatsApp, engaged in deceptive practices to conceal the harmful and addictive nature of its platforms for young users. The states claim that Meta monetized users’ attention through data harvesting and targeted advertising.
The trial, being overseen by U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzales Rogers, will have an eight-person jury serving in an advisory role, with the final decision resting with Judge Rogers. The lawsuit seeks to hold Meta accountable for its alleged violations and to implement changes to its platforms, such as age restrictions and the removal of infinite scroll features.
Meta denies the accusations and asserts that it is committed to supporting young people. The company has implemented new safety measures, including private teen accounts on Instagram and enhanced parental controls. The trial outcome could have significant financial implications, with Meta facing potential damages of up to $1.4 trillion US, a figure deemed unrealistic by legal experts.
In a separate case in New Mexico, Meta was ordered to pay substantial penalties for its platforms’ impact on young people, further adding to the legal challenges the company is currently facing. Despite these legal battles, Meta continues to defend its practices and initiatives aimed at ensuring a safe online environment for users.
