What’s at stake as Meta faces potential landmark trial in U.S. federal
Meta, which has lost two trials concerning child safety on its platforms so far this year, faces what could be its most consequential trial yet beginning Tuesday.
Jury selection took place last week in Oakland, Calif., for the federal trial to be heard by U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzales Rogers. While the eight-person jury will render a decision, they are actually serving only as an advisory jury, with the outcome ultimately decided by Rogers alone.
The trial is expected to last at least six weeks, and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Adam Mosseri, head of Instagram, could be called to testify.
Here’s more on the trial and the stakes.
Who’s suing?
The origins of the trial date back nearly three years, when dozens of states led by officials from both U.S. political parties jointly field the lawsuit in federal court in California. The lawsuit alleged that Meta — owner of Facebook, Messenger Instagram and WhatsApp — was violating federal law by collecting data on users under 13 without their parents’ consent.
The 233-page complaint alleged that Meta has engaged in deceptive practices to conceal how harmful and addictive its platforms are to young users as currently constructed, while monetizing their attention for profit through data harvesting and targeted advertising.
Meta is facing a major U.S. trial over allegations it designed Facebook and Instagram to keep young users hooked and misled consumers about their safety.
Four states are up first in this trial: California, Colorado, Kentucky and New Jersey. Twenty-five other states could have their own trials later, though it’s also possible a damaging result for Meta in this trial — which it would undoubtedly appeal — could see the company look to avoid more costly litigation with those other states.
“The state attorneys general are going for the gusto,” Eric Goldman, a professor and co-director of the High Tech Law Institute at Santa Clara University School of Law, told The Associated Press. “They are trying to set the definitive precedent in this case and they have asked for extraordinary damages and they are going to seek extraordinary structural remedies if they succeed.”
Last week, Rogers denied a Meta bid to prevent a key witness for the plaintiffs, Arturo Béjar, from testifying at the upcoming trial.
Béjar, a former director of engineering at Facebook, testified earlier this year in a case brought by the state of New Mexico that Facebook was aware from internal research that it was causing online harms to teens — such as bullying and sexual images — but failed to act appropriately. He has said Meta’s safety features are “woefully ineffective” and that the company is not adequately staffed to respond to safety violations.
What they’re asking for
The states haven’t said what they are seeking in damages monetarily. But Meta…
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