Meta, which has faced legal challenges regarding child safety on its platforms this year, is gearing up for a significant trial set to commence on Tuesday. The trial, overseen by U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzales Rogers in Oakland, Calif., involves a jury of eight individuals who will provide an advisory decision, with the final ruling resting with Rogers. Expected to span six weeks, the trial may see Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Instagram head Adam Mosseri called upon as witnesses.
The lawsuit originated nearly three years ago when multiple U.S. states jointly filed a complaint in federal court in California, alleging that Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Messenger, Instagram, and WhatsApp, unlawfully collected data from users under 13 without parental consent. The complaint, spanning 233 pages, claimed that Meta obscured the harmful and addictive nature of its platforms from young users while profiting from data collection and targeted advertising.
Initially, four states – California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey – are involved in the trial, with the potential for additional state trials pending the outcome. Meta’s efforts to prevent a key witness, Arturo Béjar, from testifying were rejected by Judge Rogers last week. Béjar, a former Facebook director, had previously testified about Facebook’s awareness of online harms to teens and Meta’s inadequate safety measures.
While the exact monetary damages sought by the states remain undisclosed, Meta has acknowledged the possibility of facing up to $1.4 trillion in financial penalties. The company views such sanctions as unprecedented in consumer protection enforcement history. Legal experts, however, deem this figure impractical, citing Meta’s financial limitations.
In response to the allegations, Meta maintains its innocence and emphasizes its dedication to supporting young users. The company has implemented new safety features, such as private teen accounts on Instagram and enhanced age verification processes, to address concerns raised in the lawsuit.
The legal landscape for Meta has been turbulent, with recent profit declines attributed in part to substantial legal expenses. Notably, a New Mexico court ordered Meta to pay significant sums in penalties for platform-related harms to young people. The company faces ongoing litigation in various jurisdictions, including Canada and Tennessee, over similar allegations.
The upcoming trial marks a critical juncture for Meta as it navigates legal challenges and strives to address concerns about child safety on its platforms.