Meta faced a major legal challenge Tuesday as attorneys began opening statements in a federal trial accusing the company of designing Facebook and Instagram to keep children and teens hooked, concealing known risks, and collecting data from young users without required parental consent.
The case, brought by attorneys general from California, Colorado, Kentucky and New Jersey, is being heard in U.S. District Court in Oakland before Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers. The states are seeking potentially hundreds of billions of dollars in penalties and changes to Meta’s platforms, with the maximum damages sought reaching $1.4 trillion.
What the States Allege
The states argue Meta deliberately developed features that encourage young people to spend more time on its platforms, including infinite scrolling, the “like” button, and recommendation algorithms designed to keep users addicted.
Because Meta generates much of its revenue through advertising, the lawsuit contends that the company had a financial incentive to maximize the time users spent on Facebook and Instagram.
The states also allege Meta knew its products could contribute to problems including disrupted sleep and education, eating disorders and body-image issues, but continued promoting the platforms to young users.
New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport said the states intend to show Meta put profits ahead of the well-being of children.
The lawsuit also alleges Meta knew children younger than 13 were using Facebook and Instagram despite the company’s policies prohibiting them from doing so. The states say Meta collected personal information from those children without parental consent, violating the federal Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, or COPPA.
Meta Rejects the Claims
Meta has denied the allegations, calling the states’ claims unsubstantiated and their financial demands excessive.
The company argues the states have not shown that consumers were misled and says it has implemented protections for teenagers. Meta also disputes efforts to hold it responsible for broader challenges involving age verification and social media use.
The company is expected to challenge the states’ effort to link specific platform features to mental health harms.
CEO Mark Zuckerberg is expected to testify during the proceedings.
Stakes Could Extend Beyond Money
The case could have significant consequences for how Meta operates Facebook and Instagram if the states prevail.
The attorneys general are seeking court orders that could require Meta to remove or modify certain features, including autoplay, disappearing content, some beauty filters and engagement-focused recommendation systems. They also want stronger protections for children and changes to how the company handles information collected from users under 13.
The legal strategy focuses on the design and operation of Meta’s products rather than simply on content posted by users. That distinction could help the states navigate legal protections such as Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act.
Legal experts say the case could also expose what Meta knew internally about the potential effects of its platforms on children and teens. The states have cited numerous public and internal statements they contend show a difference between what company officials knew and what Meta told the public.
Meta Has Already Lost Two Similar Cases
The federal trial follows two significant losses for Meta this year.
In March, a Los Angeles jury found Meta and Google responsible for harm suffered by a young woman who had compulsively used social media during her childhood and awarded her $6 million.
Earlier this month, a New Mexico judge ordered Meta to pay $567 million and implement additional safeguards after a jury found the company failed to protect young users from child sexual exploitation on its platforms. Meta has said it disagrees with the ruling and plans to appeal.
The California case could prove even more consequential. Any ruling against Meta is likely to face appeals, potentially taking the dispute to the U.S. Supreme Court.
For now, the Oakland trial puts Meta’s product design, internal knowledge and responsibility for the experiences of young users under a national spotlight.
Provided by Dallas Express
