1 week ago
Advisory Jury Leaves Meta Trial Decision With One Judge
Eight people were chosen to listen to the case against Meta.
But they will not make the final decision.
They can give the judge their opinion about the facts.
Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers will decide whether Meta is liable.
She will also decide whether Meta must change Instagram features or delete certain algorithms.
The states are mostly asking for court orders that make Meta do or stop doing things.
Meta has already lost some parts of the case before the trial began.
The judge will likely take time after the trial to write her final decision.
The case involves 29 states, although only four are trying it.
Eight jurors in Oakland will provide an advisory recommendation, not a binding verdict, in the states’ case against Meta.
Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers will decide liability, penalties and proposed remedies, including feature changes and algorithm deletion.
The states are primarily seeking equitable remedies such as injunctions and restitution rather than money damages.
Gonzalez Rogers previously ruled largely for Apple in Epic Games’ antitrust case while ordering a targeted change to Apple’s rules.
Meta has already lost partial summary judgment on certain COPPA notice and consent issues and suffered an evidence setback over privilege claims.
- Who
- Twenty-nine states brought the case; four are trying it against Meta, with Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers presiding and eight advisory jurors.
- What
- The federal trial concerns Meta’s potential liability, penalties and remedies, including changes to Instagram features and deletion of algorithms trained on children’s data.
- Where
- The case is being heard in Oakland in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California.
- When
- The trial is underway, but the judge’s written findings and final ruling are expected after closing arguments rather than immediately from the bench.
- Why
- The states seek restitution and equitable remedies, including injunctions addressing alleged harms and Meta’s use of children’s data.
States’ Position
Meta’s Position
Case remedies
States’ Position
The states are pursuing restitution and equitable remedies, including injunctions requiring Meta to change features and address algorithms trained on children’s data.
Meta’s Position
Meta’s position is not detailed in the article; the company is defending the case before Judge Gonzalez Rogers.
COPPA claims
States’ Position
The states obtained partial summary judgment on certain notice and consent issues, narrowing part of the federal claim against Meta.
Meta’s Position
Meta entered the trial after losing those issues, while the remaining COPPA claims are still to be decided.
Trial outcome
States’ Position
The states may receive a favorable advisory recommendation from the jurors, but they still need the judge to rule in their favor.
Meta’s Position
Meta could prevail before the judge even if the advisory jury recommends for the states, because the jury’s conclusion is not binding.
Key facts
- Jury role
- The eight-person jury is advisory, so its recommendation is not binding on Judge Gonzalez Rogers.
- Final decision-maker
- Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers will rule on liability, penalties and all requested remedies.
- States involved
- Twenty-nine states brought the case; four states are trying it.
- Potential remedies
- The states seek possible changes involving infinite scroll, autoplay, ephemeral content, beauty filters, age restrictions and algorithms trained on under-13 data.
- Financial amount cited
- Approximately $193 billion is sought, according to the article.
- Prior COPPA ruling
- The judge granted the states partial summary judgment on certain notice and consent issues under the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act.
- Evidence ruling
- A federal court ruled that Meta could not use attorney-client privilege to withhold internal documents and research relating to teen harm.
Sources
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