Meta trial that could reshape Facebook, Instagram gets underway
A coalition of 29 U.S. states has begun a federal trial against Meta Platforms, alleging that Facebook and Instagram were designed to be addictive and harmful to young users' mental health, and that Meta improperly collected children's data. The trial in California features an advisory jury, with Meta's CEO Mark Zuckerberg expected to testify, and could result in penalties as high as $1.4 trillion.
Why it matters
This landmark trial represents a significant legal challenge to social media companies regarding their impact on youth, potentially leading to major regulatory changes, design overhauls for popular apps, and substantial financial implications for Meta.
A coalition of States suing Meta Platforms over claims Facebook and Instagram were designed in ways that harmed young users’ mental health will begin making its case on Tuesday in California at a federal court in a trial that could reshape some of the most popular apps on the planet.
Attorneys for Colorado, California, New Jersey and Kentucky, who are leading a bipartisan group of 29 states, will give their opening statements before an eight-person jury in Oakland that is serving expressly in an advisory capacity for U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, who will ultimately decide the case.
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