Meta is gearing up for a significant trial starting Tuesday, following two previous legal setbacks this year regarding child safety issues on its platforms. Jury selection occurred last week in Oakland, California, for the federal trial overseen by U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzales Rogers. While an eight-person jury will provide input, Judge Rogers will make the final decision independently.
The trial is anticipated to span at least six weeks, with the potential for Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Instagram head Adam Mosseri to be called as witnesses. The legal action stems from a lawsuit filed nearly three years ago by multiple states alleging that Meta, which owns Facebook, Messenger, Instagram, and WhatsApp, violated federal law by gathering data on users under 13 without parental consent.
The 233-page complaint claimed that Meta employed deceptive tactics to conceal the adverse effects and addictive nature of its platforms on young users while profiting from targeted advertising and data collection. The trial’s initial focus includes four states: California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey, with additional states potentially pursuing separate legal actions in the future.
Legal experts have suggested that the $1.4 trillion in potential financial damages mentioned by Meta in court filings is unrealistic and could bankrupt the company if enforced. Meta has refuted the allegations, emphasizing its efforts to enhance safety measures for young users, such as introducing teen accounts on Instagram with enhanced privacy features and parental controls.
In a related case in New Mexico, Meta faced substantial financial penalties, including a recent order to pay $567 million for platform-related harms to young individuals. The company has encountered similar legal challenges in various jurisdictions, including ongoing litigation in Tennessee and Canada over alleged negative impacts on young users.