Meta, after losing two child safety trials this year, is now facing a pivotal trial that commences on Tuesday. Jury selection occurred last week in Oakland, Calif., for a federal trial presided over by U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzales Rogers. While an eight-person jury will provide a decision, they are serving as an advisory jury, with the final decision resting with Judge Rogers alone.
The trial, estimated to span six weeks, may involve testimonies from Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Instagram head Adam Mosseri. The lawsuit, initiated nearly three years ago by multiple states, accused Meta of breaching federal law by collecting data from users under 13 without parental consent. The complaint, spanning 233 pages, alleged that Meta obscured the harmful and addictive nature of its platforms for young users while profiting from data harvesting and targeted advertising.
The trial’s initial phase includes California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey. Additional states could have subsequent trials, pending the outcome of this trial. The state attorneys general are pushing for substantial damages and structural changes if they prevail in the case.
Meta, in a legal filing, projected facing potential financial damages up to $1.4 trillion US during the trial. The company rebutted the allegations, emphasizing its commitment to youth safety. Meta has implemented new safety features and measures since the lawsuit’s inception, such as teen accounts on Instagram with enhanced privacy and parental controls.
In light of recent legal challenges, Meta reported a profit decline, partly attributed to significant legal expenses. The company is also entangled in other lawsuits and faces scrutiny over platform addiction and harm to young users, both in the U.S. and internationally.