Meta is gearing up for a significant trial starting Tuesday, following two previous legal losses on child safety issues this year. Jury selection was completed last week in Oakland, Calif., for the federal trial, overseen by U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzales Rogers. While an eight-person jury will provide advice, the final decision rests with Rogers alone.
The trial is anticipated to span at least six weeks, with the possibility of Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Instagram head Adam Mosseri testifying. The legal action stems from a lawsuit filed nearly three years ago by multiple states, alleging that Meta’s platforms, including Facebook, Messenger, Instagram, and WhatsApp, unlawfully gathered data from users under 13 without parental consent. The complaint claims that Meta obscured the harmful and addictive nature of its platforms for young users while profiting from their data through targeted advertising.
The trial’s initial phase involves four states: California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey, with additional states potentially following suit later. Legal experts suggest that a ruling against Meta in this trial could prompt the company to seek a settlement to avoid further costly litigation with other states. The state attorneys general are seeking significant damages and structural changes to Meta’s platforms, including age restrictions and the removal of features like infinite scroll.
Meta refutes the allegations, emphasizing its commitment to youth safety and highlighting recent safety enhancements on its platforms. The company introduced teen accounts on Instagram with enhanced privacy settings and parental controls, along with utilizing AI to detect underage users and prevent access to adult content.
Financially, Meta faces potential damages up to $1.4 trillion as per its legal filings, though some experts deem this figure unrealistic. The outcome of the trial will determine any financial penalties imposed on Meta. Additionally, the company has been embroiled in legal battles in various jurisdictions, including New Mexico and Tennessee, over allegations of platform addiction and harm to young users.
Overall, Meta’s legal challenges underscore the growing scrutiny and regulatory pressure on tech companies regarding user safety and platform accountability.