Meta Faces Landmark Trial Over Alleged Harm to Children
Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, is facing a major trial in California over allegations that it deliberately designed its platforms to be addictive to children and failed to adequately protect young users.
The case, which began on Tuesday, was brought by a coalition of US states, with California, Colorado, Kentucky and New Jersey selected to represent them at trial.
Lawyers for the states are expected to argue that Meta violated state and federal laws through its business practices and allegedly misrepresented what it knew about safety risks linked to its platforms.
The trial could become one of the most significant legal challenges facing the social media industry, with Meta serving more than three billion users worldwide.
Ahead of the proceedings, Meta sought to prevent former employee and expert witness Arturo Bejar from testifying. Federal Judge Yvonne Rogers rejected the request, describing it as an attempt to eliminate a strong witness for the states.
Bejar has previously testified against Meta, including in a New Mexico case that the company lost. Lawyers are expected to question him about Meta’s safety practices and what the company allegedly knew about potential risks.
The states also plan to present expert evidence on “dark patterns”, design features allegedly intended to influence users’ decisions.
Meta founder and chief executive Mark Zuckerberg is among the high-profile witnesses expected to testify. The company strongly denies the allegations.
The states are seeking about $200 billion in damages and changes to Meta’s applications. Meta had previously suggested potential penalties could exceed $1 trillion, a figure the states disputed.
The trial is expected to last about six weeks, with a verdict anticipated by early October.
Legal experts have compared the case with the landmark 1998 tobacco settlement, saying the outcome could force major changes in Meta’s business practices, particularly concerning children and young users
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