Meta faces child safety trial as former engineer testifies

Meta lawsuit child safety Arturo Bejar social media addiction data privacy

Arturo Bejar, a former engineering director at Meta, testified in a federal court in Oakland, California, regarding the company's impact on minors. Bejar stated that Meta prioritized growth and user retention metrics over the safety and protection of younger users on platforms like Facebook and Instagram.

During his testimony, Bejar described a corporate culture where safety initiatives were often secondary to engagement. He specifically highlighted a ‘do not ask, no tell’ approach regarding users under the age of 13 on Instagram, despite the platform's minimum age requirements. He also asserted that Mark Zuckerberg was deeply involved in product design decisions, noting that significant changes required his personal approval.

The legal action is being led by a coalition of 29 U.S. states, including California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey. The lawsuit alleges that Meta intentionally designed its platforms to be addictive to young people, contributing to anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation, while also illegally collecting personal data from children under 13. Meta has denied these allegations, stating that Bejar's views are not representative of the company's expertise.

Entities

Arturo Béjar · Facebook · Instagram · Mark Zuckerberg · Meta

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 2 SOURCES] Meta designed Facebook and Instagram to intentionally create addiction in young users. www.aktuelno.me · www.glasistre.hr
[● 2 SOURCES] Meta illegally collected and used personal data from children under 13. www.aktuelno.me · www.glasistre.hr
[● 2 SOURCES] Mark Zuckerberg was directly involved in most product design decisions due to the company's hierarchy. www.aktuelno.me · www.glasistre.hr
[● 2 SOURCES] Meta denies the allegations and claims Bejar's opinions are outside his area of expertise. www.aktuelno.me · www.glasistre.hr
[● 2 SOURCES] Meta followed a ‘do not ask, do not tell’ policy regarding users under the age of 13 on Instagram. newsonline.com.ar · infoarenales.com
[● 4 SOURCES] Meta prioritized user growth and engagement metrics over safety measures for young users. newsonline.com.ar · infoarenales.com · www.aktuelno.me · www.glasistre.hr

Sources

La declaración de un exempleado que complica a Meta en el juicio por la seguridad de los menores – News Online MDZ [newsonline.com.ar]

1 day ago

Testimonio De Un Exempleado Que Agrava La Posición De Meta En El Proceso Judicial Sobre La Protección Infantil [infoarenales.com]

1 day ago

Bivši inženjer Mete: Zuckerberg je stavio profit ispred sigu [www.aktuelno.me]

about 1 hour ago

Facebook i Instagram optuženi da su kod mladih poticali anksioznost i depresiju [www.glasistre.hr]

1 day ago