Meta, having lost two legal battles related to child safety on its platforms earlier this year, is now embroiled in what could be its most significant trial to date, commencing on Tuesday. The federal trial, overseen by U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzales Rogers in Oakland, California, saw jury selection last week. Although the eight-person jury will provide input, the final decision rests with Judge Rogers alone. The trial is estimated to span at least six weeks, potentially featuring testimonies from Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Instagram head Adam Mosseri.
The lawsuit traces back nearly three years, initiated by multiple states alleging that Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Messenger, Instagram, and WhatsApp, violated federal regulations by gathering data from users under 13 without parental consent. The extensive complaint highlighted Meta’s purported deceptive practices in concealing the addictive and detrimental nature of its platforms for young users, while profiting from targeted advertising through data collection.
The trial’s first phase involves four states—California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey—with the possibility of additional state trials later. Legal experts suggest that a negative outcome for Meta in this trial could prompt the company to seek resolution to avoid further legal entanglements. State attorneys are pursuing substantial damages and structural reforms if successful, aiming to set a precedent in the case.
Meta faces a potential financial penalty of up to $1.4 trillion, as disclosed in a legal filing, a figure contested by experts as unrealistic given Meta’s financial capacity. Alongside monetary damages, state attorneys are pushing for alterations to Meta’s platforms, including age restrictions and the elimination of infinite scrolling features.
Meta refutes the allegations, asserting its dedication to safeguarding young users through enhanced safety measures, like private teen accounts on Instagram and AI tools to monitor underage usage. The company has implemented various safety enhancements since the lawsuit’s initiation.
In a separate case in New Mexico, Meta faced penalties and safety mandates following a court ruling, showcasing the escalating legal challenges against the tech giant. The company is also entangled in legal disputes in Canada and Tennessee over alleged harm to young users, reflecting a broader legal landscape challenging Meta’s platform practices.