Meta, after losing two trials related to child safety on its platforms this year, is gearing up for a potentially pivotal trial starting on Tuesday. The federal trial, presided over by U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzales Rogers in Oakland, California, saw jury selection last week. Although an eight-person jury will provide a decision, their role is advisory, with Judge Rogers ultimately determining the outcome independently.
Anticipated to span at least six weeks, the trial may see Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Instagram head Adam Mosseri called to testify. The legal battle traces back to nearly three years ago when numerous states, led by officials from both U.S. political parties, jointly filed a lawsuit in California federal court. Accusations centered on Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Messenger, Instagram, and WhatsApp, allegedly breaching federal law by gathering data on users under 13 without parental consent.
The 233-page complaint asserted that Meta employed deceptive tactics to mask the harmful and addictive nature of its platforms to young users, while profiting from their attention through data collection and targeted ads. The trial’s initiation involves four states: California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey, with the potential for additional states to follow suit later. A negative outcome for Meta in this trial might lead to the company seeking to avoid further litigation with other states.
According to legal experts, Meta could potentially face financial damages up to $1.4 trillion in the trial, a figure contested by the company as unrealistic. Alongside monetary penalties, state attorneys general are requesting court-ordered changes to Meta’s platforms, including age restrictions and eliminating features like infinite scroll. Meta refutes the allegations, emphasizing its dedication to supporting young users and highlighting recent safety enhancements on its platforms.
The legal landscape for Meta has been challenging, with the company reporting a profit decline due in part to substantial legal expenses. In a recent New Mexico case, Meta faced penalties totaling hundreds of millions of dollars, with the judge mandating new safety measures on its platforms. Various school districts in the U.S. have sued social media companies, including Meta, for causing harm to students, although settlements have been reached in some cases.
Meta’s legal battles extend beyond the U.S., with ongoing litigation in Canada and Tennessee over alleged harms to young users. The company’s responses and defenses in these cases continue to shape its legal standing and public perception.