Meta faces federal trial over allegations of addictive platform design for children
Meta is set to face a high-stakes federal trial in Oakland, California, regarding allegations that its platforms, Instagram and Facebook, were designed to be addictive to children. The lawsuit is being brought by the attorneys general of California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey.
Prosecutors allege that Meta deliberately implemented features to exploit young users, and are seeking up to $1.4 trillion in penalties, a sum approaching the company's total market capitalization. The legal action also seeks various restrictions on how the platforms operate for minors. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is expected to be called as a witness.
The trial process begins this week with jury selection, with opening statements scheduled for August 18. The proceedings are expected to last approximately six weeks, with a verdict anticipated in early October. This case follows previous legal setbacks for the company, including a Los Angeles jury conviction that found Meta responsible for a teenager's social media addiction.
Entities: Facebook · Instagram · Mark Zuckerberg · Meta · Oakland
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 3 SOURCES] They are demanding a long list of restrictions on how Instagram and Facebook operate for minors, as well as up to $1. 4 trillion in penalties (Plaintiffs are seeking up to $1.4 trillion in penalties)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The trial lasting for roughly six weeks (The trial is expected to last approximately six weeks)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The federal trial... will begin Wednesday with jury selection at a federal court in Oakland (Jury selection for the federal trial begins Wednesday in Oakland)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Opening statements are expected to start next week on August 18 (Opening statements are expected to start on August 18)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Meta and YouTube were convicted by a Los Angeles jury, which found both companies were responsible for a teenager's social media addiction. (Meta was previously convicted in a Los Angeles trial related to social media addiction)
- [● 3 SOURCES] followed by a verdict in early October (A verdict is expected in early October)
- [● 3 SOURCES] CEO and founder Mark Zuckerberg is among the star witnesses the prosecution plans to call to the stand (The prosecution plans to call Mark Zuckerberg to the stand)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The attorneys general of California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey allege the largest social media network in the world deliberately made Instagram and Facebook addictive for children. (Attorneys general of California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey allege Meta deliberately made Instagram and Facebook)