2 weeks ago
Meta calls allegations of misleading users 'unsubstantiated' ahead of trial
Meta is a big technology company that makes apps like Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.
Many states in America say Meta's apps are made to keep kids using them for a very long time.
The states believe this is harmful, so they are taking Meta to court to protect children.
The trial will start on August 18 in Oakland, California, and will last about seven weeks.
Leaders of the company, like Mark Zuckerberg, will probably tell the court what they know.
The states want Meta to change its apps for kids, like taking away endless scrolling.
Meta says the claims are not true and that it has strong protections for teens.
Meta says the money the states want is far too much — around $1.4 trillion.
Meta is also dealing with other legal problems, like a $567 million fine in New Mexico.
Earlier this year, a Los Angeles jury found Meta and its video site YouTube negligent in a similar case.
Meta called the states' allegations that it misled users 'unsubstantiated' ahead of its upcoming social media addiction trial.
The trial begins August 18 in federal court in Oakland, California, and is expected to last seven weeks, according to Reuters.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta said Meta 'designed a dangerous product for young users,' while Meta says the states' financial demands are vastly disproportionate.
The October 2023 lawsuit by 29 states accuses Meta of using features like infinite scrolling and push notifications to ensnare youth and teens and of violating a federal children's privacy law.
The states want changes to apps for users under 18, including removing infinite scrolling, video autoplay, and 'like' counts.
- Who
- Meta, led by CEO Mark Zuckerberg, versus a coalition of 29 state attorneys general, with California, Colorado, New Jersey, and Kentucky arguing in federal court.
- What
- A trial over allegations that Meta designed addictive social media apps that harm young users and misled the public about their safety; Meta calls the claims unsubstantiated.
- Where
- Federal court in Oakland, California (Northern District of California).
- When
- Trial begins August 18 and is expected to last seven weeks; the lawsuit was filed in October 2023.
- Why
- The states allege Meta's features entice, engage, and ensnare youth and teens, and that Meta violated a federal online privacy law by collecting children's personal information without parental consent.
State Attorneys General
Meta
Merit of the lawsuit
State Attorneys General
The case is a landmark effort; AG Rob Bonta said Meta 'designed a dangerous product for young users' and lied about how dangerous it was.
Meta
The claims are 'unsubstantiated' and the states 'offer no proof anyone in their states was misled.'
Harm from app features
State Attorneys General
Features like infinite scrolling and push notifications were designed 'to entice, engage, and ultimately ensnare youth and teens.'
Meta
The cited features, such as having an additional Instagram account, are benign, and Meta notes the challenges are industry-wide, like age verification.
Financial demands
State Attorneys General
The states are seeking sweeping changes to apps for users under 18, including removing infinite scrolling, video autoplay, and 'like' counts.
Meta
The states' financial demands are 'vastly disproportionate' and chase an 'outlandish payout' — damages of around $1.4 trillion.
Key facts
- Defendant
- Meta (owner of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp)
- Plaintiffs
- 29 state attorneys general; California, Colorado, New Jersey, and Kentucky arguing in federal court
- Trial start
- August 18
- Expected duration
- Seven weeks (per Reuters)
- Court
- Federal court in Oakland, California (Northern District of California)
- Damages cited by Meta
- Around $1.4 trillion
- Expected witnesses
- Mark Zuckerberg and Adam Mosseri
- Related penalty
- $567 million fine from a New Mexico court in a similar case this month
Quotes
Meta spokesperson
Representative of Meta addressing ABC News
“"The State AGs may call this a landmark case, but their limited claims are unsubstantiated, and their financial demands are vastly disproportionate."”
livemint.com
“"We stand by our record of creating strong protections for teens, and look forward to making our case in court."”
livemint.com
Sources
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