Summary

  • Social media giant Meta is going on trial over claims it deliberately designed its platforms to be addictive to young people

  • The four US states due in court today are seeking billions of dollars from Meta - they're acting on behalf of a group of 29 states that filed a lawsuit in 2023 arguing the company violated child privacy laws

  • Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman calls it "the largest consumer protection lawsuit in American history"

  • Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, says it "strongly disagrees" with the allegations and evidence will show its "longstanding commitment to supporting young people"

  • The trial - taking place at a federal court in California - is expected to last six to eight weeks and will feature testimony from Meta boss Mark Zuckerberg

Live Reporting

Edited by Caitlin Doherty, Angus Thompson and Kieran Kelly

  1. Meta facing thousands of lawsuits across the US

    Mark Zuckerberg leaves the Federal Courthouse in downtown Los AngelesGetty Images

    Mark Zuckerberg leaving court in February after defending Meta in a separate trial in Los Angeles

    In addition to today's trial, Meta is currently facing thousands of lawsuits in the US over child safety issues.

    Earlier this month, a US judge in New Mexico ordered Meta to pay another $567m (£421m) for its failure to warn the public about dangers its platforms posed to children.

    The figure was in addition to $375m (£277m) in fines Meta was already ordered to pay in the case.

    It marked the largest fine against the company over child safety.

    At the time, Judge Bryan Biedscheid said the social media giant is a "public nuisance" akin to air pollution, saying it must put the money in a fund aimed at reducing future harms.

    A spokesman for Meta said at the time: "We disagree with the ruling and will appeal."

    In March, Meta also lost a landmark case in Los Angeles that found it could be held liable for building addictive platforms.

  2. Meta defends 'longstanding commitment' to young people

    Liv McMahon
    Technology reporter

    Meta has consistently denied allegations that it has failed teens, including claims in this case that it deliberately designed its platforms to be addictive and breached child privacy laws.

    "We strongly disagree with these allegations and are confident the evidence will show our longstanding commitment to supporting young people," a company spokeswoman said in a statement.

    It has often cited numerous measures to protect young people, such as parental controls, safety features and making teen accounts private by default.

    But this hasn’t stopped a groundswell of legal action in the US.

  3. What is Meta being accused of?

    The silhouette of a boy with a smartphone.Getty Images

    A group of 29 US states are claiming numerous violations by Meta of federal and state laws designed to protect children.

    That includes breaches of the federal Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) - intended to protect children under 13 years old from being targeted by businesses operating online.

    The states allege Meta designed Facebook and Instagram to be addictive to children and teens, with features on the apps (such as video autoplay and Instagram Stories) made to keep them on there for as long as possible.

    They claim Meta makes it difficult for young people to use the platform less - through functions like frequent notifications intended to get young people back on the apps.

    The states allege the company has misled consumers about the safety of the platforms for young users.

    Meta is also accused of improperly collecting and using children’s personal data while they used the company’s platforms.

    Meta has consistently denied such claims. We elaborate on its response in the next post.

  4. Facebook whistleblower's testimony paved the way for today's trial

    Liv McMahon
    Technology reporter

    Frances Haughen in CongressGetty Images

    Former Facebook employee Frances Haughen has testified in front of US Congress about the company's safety practices

    The trial that begins today stems from a lawsuit filed against Meta by a coalition of US states in October 2023.

    In that lawsuit, a group of attorneys general claimed the company had used addictive features to "ensnare" users, while also concealing the dangers of its platforms.

    At the time, Meta was facing scrutiny after former Facebook product manager Frances Haugen testified in front of Congress that the company was aware that its products, particularly Instagram, were harming young people.

    Haugen’s claims prompted an investigation by several state prosecutors, later forming the basis for the current multi-state lawsuit against Meta.

    The social media giant has consistently and strongly denied allegations it failed to protect teens. But its efforts to dismiss this suit, or at least diffuse it into smaller trials, has largely failed.

    Now, four of the 29 states suing the company - California, Colorado, Kentucky and New Jersey - will present their case.

  5. Meta goes on trial over child privacy and social media addiction claims

    Meta written in black over a white backgroundGetty Images

    Meta will go on trial today over claims it violated a series of federal and state privacy laws for children.

    The Instagram and Facebook owner is accused of designing its platforms to be addictive to young people and violating child privacy laws.

    Four states are due in court today seeking billions of dollars from Meta - it follows a lawsuit filed by 29 states in 2023 arguing the company violated child privacy laws.

    The states are also demanding it makes changes to Instagram and Facebook, including changes to "like" counts and the infinite-scroll function.

    Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman has described the case as "the largest consumer protection lawsuit in American history".

    A Meta spokesperson said the company "strongly" disagrees with the allegations, insisting it has a "longstanding commitment to supporting young people".

    Stick with us ahead of the trial getting under way in Oakland, California.