'Profits won.' The child safety trial against Meta kicks off in federal court
A consortium of states has initiated a federal trial against Meta Platforms, alleging that Instagram and Facebook are designed to be addictive to minors and that Meta violated child privacy laws. The lawsuit, compared to past tobacco litigation, seeks up to $1.4 trillion in penalties.
Why it matters
This landmark trial could fundamentally alter how social media companies design and operate their platforms for young users, potentially leading to significant regulatory changes and financial consequences for Meta and the broader tech industry.
OAKLAND, Calif. - An attorney representing a consortium of states hurled sharp accusations at Meta Platforms in federal court in Oakland on Tuesday, at the start of the latest trial in a web of cases that aim to hold social media companies accountable for alleged harms to the mental health of young users.
"Meta's business model can be summed up in four simple words: 'hook' the users, 'hold' them for as long as they can, 'harvest' their data, and then 'hide' the truth from the public when making public statements," California Deputy Attorney General Megan O'Neill said in her opening statement.
"It was especially bad for kids," she said.
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