A trial against Meta has begun in the United States that could affect how Instagram and Facebook operate nationwide, according to infohub.kz.
The lawsuit, filed by 29 states, accuses the company of creating features that could negatively impact the mental health of children and teenagers. Eight jurors in a California federal court will participate as an advisory jury, with the final decision to be made by Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers.
At the center of the case are allegations from four states: Colorado, California, New Jersey, and Kentucky. They claim that Meta deliberately designed Facebook and Instagram to keep minors on the platforms and misled consumers about their safety. The other states accuse the company of improperly collecting and using children's personal data in violation of federal law.
The states are seeking to require Meta to change its platforms nationwide, including introducing age restrictions, eliminating infinite scroll, and implementing other protective measures for minors.
The company says it takes serious steps to ensure teen safety and sees no evidence that residents were misled or harmed. "The states are seeking an incredibly large payout instead of focusing on facts and the law," Meta said. Founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Instagram head Adam Mosseri are expected to testify during the multi-week trial.
The lawsuit was filed in 2023 following a broad investigation into social media's impact on young users, which began after former Meta employee Frances Haugen told U.S. lawmakers in 2021 that the company knew about the potential harm its products could cause to children and teenagers. The states plan to present internal Meta documents and research, as well as testimony from former employees and experts.
The case is considered one of the most serious challenges for Meta amid thousands of lawsuits against social networks over their influence on minors. Meta estimates potential fines could reach $1.4 trillion, nearly the size of its entire market capitalization of about $1.5 trillion. If the court rules in favor of the states, the decision could lead to sweeping changes in how Instagram and Facebook operate for users across the U.S.