Meta, on trial for "hooking" minors

Meta faces one of its largest legal challenges yet, as it stands trial over allegations that its social media platforms, Facebook and Instagram, have harmed the health of minors through addictive design practices. The case, which began on Tuesday, involves multiple states accusing the company of prioritizing profit over child safety and violating federal and state laws. The lawsuit demands changes to platform design and functionality, along with economic compensation whose exact amount has not been specified, though estimates suggest it could reach up to $200 billion. Meta argues that such figures are disproportionate, claiming maximum penalties could exceed $1.4 trillion, though the final judgment will be determined by the court. The plaintiffs allege that Meta designed and implemented features on Instagram and Facebook aimed at encouraging compulsive usage among children and teenagers, despite being aware of the potential physical and mental health risks. They also claim that the company collected personal data from users under 13 years old without parental consent, violating federal privacy laws. Meta denies these accusations, maintaining that its actions comply with all applicable regulations. The trial, taking place in the U.S. Federal Court in Oakland, California, is expected to last four to six weeks. It is part of a broader wave of lawsuits against major tech companies, with Meta, TikTok, Google, and Snapchat facing more than 3,000 individual claims from young people and families who attribute harmful effects to their products. These cases argue that the platforms' designs contribute to addiction and negatively impact mental well-being. This marks one of the biggest legal hurdles for Meta, which has already faced setbacks this year in cases related to the protection of minors. In New Mexico, the company was ordered to pay $942 million in fines and measures, while in Los Angeles, a jury found Meta and YouTube liable for contributing to addiction and awarded $6 million in damages to the plaintiff. Meta has since appealed both decisions. The litigation originated from a 2023 lawsuit filed by attorneys general from 29 states. This initial phase includes California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey, which assert that Meta created and deployed harmful features on its platforms that lead to addiction among minors and violated federal and state laws, including the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). California Attorney General Rob Bonta stated before the trial began, "One of my most important functions as attorney general is protecting our children from any harm. As our complaint alleges, Meta prioritizes profits over the safety of children and repeatedly violates consumer protection laws." California Deputy Attorney General Megan O'Neill outlined the arguments during her opening remarks, stating, "Meta’s business model can be summarized in four simple steps: hook users, keep them engaged as long as possible, collect their data, and then hide the truth from the public... Meta exploited how the brains of minors function." Arturo Béjar, a former security engineer and advisor to Meta on wellbeing issues, supported the plaintiffs, saying he had previously raised concerns about application security flaws and shared his personal experience. His daughter, an Instagram user, received a sexually explicit message and was unable to report it through the app, leading him to say, "Children were suffering damage at an extraordinarily high rate." On the other side, Meta’s lawyers rejected the accusations. Paul Schmidt, a lawyer representing the company, claimed that Meta "strongly disagrees" with the allegations and defended the measures taken to protect minors, including the removal of 600,000 accounts created by users under 13. He urged the jury to remain open-minded. The trial is expected to continue with further evidence and arguments presented by both sides.