29 US states sue Meta over harm to children
A trial has begun in Oakland, California, in a lawsuit filed by 29 US states against Meta, accusing the company of exposing children and teenagers to risks of excessive use and privacy violations. The lawsuit is led by California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey, and claims Meta designed its platforms to encourage prolonged use. Meta denies the allegations and faces penalties that could reach $1.4 trillion.
A trial began Tuesday in Oakland, California, against Meta, the owner of Facebook and Instagram, in a case brought by 29 US states accusing the company of exposing children and teenagers to risks of excessive use and privacy violations. The lawsuit is led by California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey, where authorities allege Meta designed its platforms and technical features, including infinite scrolling, notifications, and recommendation systems, to encourage younger users to spend longer periods on the app and make it harder for them to stop. The states also accuse the company of collecting and using personal data of children under 13 without parental consent, in violation of child privacy protection laws, and of providing misleading information about the level of safety its platforms offer to minors. Meta denies the allegations, asserting there is no conclusive evidence that its platforms caused the alleged harms, and notes it has taken steps to enhance teen protection and develop safer tools. If it loses the case, the company faces demands for financial penalties that could reach $1.4 trillion under a calculation mechanism based on the plaintiff states' laws, along with demands for changes to how Facebook and Instagram operate. The trial is being held before Federal Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers and is expected to last between six and eight weeks, with anticipation of testimony from Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Instagram head Adam Mosseri. The case is a significant legal test for social media companies amid rising lawsuits in the US over the impact of social platforms and their algorithms on children and teenagers.