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Meta to face child safety lawsuit trial in Oakland on Tuesday
The trial is part of a 29-state case filed in 2023, and Meta says potential damages could reach $1.4 trillion.
Meta (META) is set to go to trial in Oakland, California on Tuesday against attorneys general from multiple states, with plaintiffs alleging the company violated child safety and consumer protection laws and harmed children's mental health, according to Yahoo Finance.
The case is being heard before District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers in US District Court for the Northern District of California and is described as a bellwether for future proceedings following a lawsuit filed by 29 states in 2023.
California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey are taking part, and the expected testimony includes Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri. Plaintiffs allege Meta created psychologically manipulative features to maximize young users' time spent, including infinite scroll, autoplay, and likes.
The states also claim Meta violated COPPA by allegedly allowing children under 13 on its platform while collecting data without parental consent. Meta denies the allegations and says potential damages could be as high as $1.4 trillion, while a company spokesperson characterized the states' claims and financial demands as unsubstantiated and disproportionate.