Meta Faces Landmark Child Safety Trial in California
More than half of US states join legal challenge alleging addictive features harm youth mental health; CEO Mark Zuckerberg scheduled to testify.
Image: Eddie Pollard / AI
Callum Smith
A child privacy and safety trial against Meta Platforms has begun in a California federal court.
The proceedings, expected to last six to eight weeks, will feature testimony from Meta chief executive Mark Zuckerberg and are overseen by U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers.
This legal strategy reportedly draws directly from the approach used against tobacco companies in the 1990s.
A landmark U.S. government case against major tobacco companies, including Philip Morris, resulted in a $14 billion settlement over 10 years, down from an original demand of $289 billion.
Billions in damages are sought in the current Meta trial; the company faces potential fines up to $1.4 trillion and demands for changes like tighter age restrictions and a ban on features such as infinite scroll.
A previous bellwether case found social media companies, including YouTube, liable for designing addictive products that harmed a young claimant, resulting in a $6 million award.
Meta operates primarily as a digital advertising company, its business relying on user engagement driven by its recommender algorithm.
The trial reflects a wider international crackdown on children's access to social media by nations including Australia, Britain, and EU members.
Britain plans to approve a ban on social media for under-16s by Christmas, with the measure set to take effect around Spring 2027.
China has already implemented a 'minor mode' for device-level restrictions and app-specific rules to limit screen time for minors.
The 29 State Attorneys General claim Meta intentionally designed addictive products that lured in young people and caused them harm.
Lawsuit documents also claim Meta regularly collects data on children under 13 without parental permission, reportedly violating federal and state laws, including the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).
Meta denies all allegations; a spokesperson stated the attorneys general offer no proof anyone in their states was misled and are attempting to penalize Meta for industry-wide challenges like age verification.