Meta is defending itself in a federal civil trial brought by 29 state attorneys general alleging the company illegally collected data from children and misled consumers.
Key facts
- •The trial involves 29 state attorneys general, led by representatives from California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey.
- •Meta denies the allegations, maintaining it complied with COPPA and citing Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act as a defense.
- •Former employee Arturo Bejar testified that Meta's culture made it "near impossible" to screen features for potential harm to children.
- •The trial was paused on Thursday due to a sick juror.
- •Meta was recently ordered to pay over $940 million in New Mexico for causing psychological harm to children.
Meta is currently facing a federal civil trial in the US District Court for the Northern District of California regarding its impact on children. A coalition of 29 state attorneys general alleges that the company violated the federal Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) by collecting data on children under 13 without parental consent. The plaintiffs also claim Meta made deceptive statements about its platforms, specifically Facebook and Instagram.
By the numbers
Arguments from the Courtroom
During opening statements, California Deputy Attorney General Megan O’Neill argued that Meta deliberately designed features to hook children and keep them on its apps for extended periods. In response, Meta lead attorney Paul Schmidt stated the company has implemented numerous safety features and remains committed to improvements. He also noted that some responsibility lies with users, as some children find ways to access apps and struggle with time management.
Testimony and Potential Outcomes
Former Meta employee Arturo Bejar testified that the company’s culture prioritized growth over youth safety, making it difficult to screen products for potential harm. The trial, presided over by Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, could result in significant financial penalties, with state attorneys general seeking approximately $200 billion in damages. A ruling against Meta could also force the company to alter core platform features, such as implementing stricter age-gating, removing "likes" and "endless scroll" for younger users, or increasing algorithmic transparency.
Timeline
- TuesdayOpening arguments were presented in the federal civil trial.
- WednesdayThe court heard testimony from former Meta employee Arturo Bejar.
- ThursdayThe trial was paused due to a sick juror.
Advertisement
This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by Wired.
