Meta faces landmark US trial over teen addiction and privacy claims
Opening arguments begin in a major federal trial accusing Meta of harming teens via addictive features and data collection.
A pivotal federal trial against Meta Platforms opens Tuesday in Oakland, California, with attorneys general from California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey seeking financial penalties and operational changes to Facebook and Instagram. The case is part of a broader 2023 lawsuit filed by 29 states, with the remaining 25 states set to go to trial later.
The plaintiffs allege that Meta knowingly designed addictive features that contribute to a youth mental health crisis, and that the company routinely collects data from children under 13 without parental consent, violating federal law. Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman called it "the largest consumer protection lawsuit in American history," adding that Meta concealed what it knew about the harms to young people because "looking away was more profitable."
Meta has defended its record, stating it is "proud" of its efforts to protect teens and that it looks forward to showing the judge and jury the facts in court.
U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, who has handled other high-profile tech cases, will oversee the trial, expected to last six to eight weeks. Testimony may include Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and other executives and former employees.
The case is one of many against major social media platforms, including YouTube, TikTok, and Snap, over similar allegations of harm to young users and data privacy violations.