Meta Faces Trial in California Over Claims It Addicted Kids to Social Media
In California, Meta Platforms is facing a trial concerning accusations of making Facebook and Instagram addictive for minors and illegally collecting their data. The proceedings, led by 29 state attorneys general, commenced with jury selection on Wednesday in Oakland. The trial is anticipated to span seven weeks, with opening statements set for August 18. Testimonies from Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Instagram head Adam Mosseri are expected. The states are pursuing damages that could total $1.4 trillion and are requesting U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers to enforce age limits and modify algorithms. This case follows a multistate investigation triggered by revelations from Meta whistleblower Frances Haugen in 2021. A second trial involving 14 states is planned for February.
Key facts
- Meta Platforms is on trial in Oakland, California, over claims it made Facebook and Instagram addictive to minors and harvested their data.
- The trial began jury selection on Wednesday and is expected to last seven weeks, with opening statements on August 18.
- Mark Zuckerberg and Adam Mosseri are expected to testify.
- The states seek damages that Meta estimates could reach $1.4 trillion.
- Four states (Colorado, Kentucky, California, New Jersey) request age restrictions, elimination of infinite scroll, deletion of algorithms and AI models built with children's data, and changes to content recommendation algorithms.
- The case stems from a multistate investigation following whistleblower Frances Haugen's 2021 Senate testimony.
- The trial includes federal claims under COPPA and state consumer protection claims.
- A second trial involving 14 additional states is scheduled for February.
- Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers opted for an advisory jury.
- The 9th Circuit denied Meta's attempt to postpone the trial.
- The case is part of over 3,000 federal lawsuits against Meta, Snap, Alphabet, and ByteDance.
- Meta recently lost a case in New Mexico, ordered to pay $942 million.
Entities
Artists
- Mark Zuckerberg
- Adam Mosseri
- Frances Haugen
- Eric Goldman
Institutions
- Meta Platforms
- Santa Clara University School of Law
- High Tech Law Institute
- Reuters
- U.S. District Court
- 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals
- U.S. Senate
- Snap
- Alphabet
- ByteDance
Locations
- Oakland
- California
- Colorado
- Kentucky
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
Sources
- Quartz —