Meta is gearing up for a significant trial over child safety on its platforms, with jury selection having occurred in Oakland, Calif. The trial, set to be presided over by U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzales Rogers, will feature an advisory jury, whose decision will be ultimately determined by Rogers alone. The trial is anticipated to span at least six weeks, during which Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Instagram head Adam Mosseri may be called to provide testimony.
The legal battle traces back nearly three years when a coalition of states, led by officials from various political affiliations, filed a lawsuit in federal court in California. The lawsuit alleged that Meta, which owns Facebook, Messenger, Instagram, and WhatsApp, was in violation of federal law by gathering data from users under 13 without parental consent. The complaint further claimed that Meta concealed the harmful and addictive nature of its platforms for young users while exploiting their attention for profit through data collection and targeted advertising.
The trial’s initial phase involves four states: California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey. Following this trial, twenty-five other states may proceed with their own legal actions against Meta depending on the outcome. The state attorneys general are seeking substantial damages and structural changes if successful in this case.
Meta’s financial exposure in the trial is significant, with the company potentially facing damages of up to $1.4 trillion. While Meta disputes these allegations, it has implemented new safety measures on its platforms, such as introducing teen accounts on Instagram with enhanced privacy and parental controls. Despite Meta’s efforts to address safety concerns, the legal challenges persist, with ongoing litigation in various jurisdictions.
In a parallel legal landscape, Meta recently faced financial penalties in the New Mexico case, where it was ordered to pay significant sums for harms caused to young people through its platforms. The company’s legal battles extend beyond the U.S., with allegations of harm to young users in Canada and ongoing disputes in other regions.