Meta is heading to trial in California in a high-stakes case that could rewrite how Instagram and Facebook work for young users. A bipartisan group of 29 states alleges that the company built its platforms to hook kids and teens, misled families about safety, and illegally harvested children's data, Reuters reports. An eight-person jury in Oakland will hear opening statements on Tuesday via attorneys from four states—California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey—though US District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers will ultimately decide the case.
"This week, we're in court with the largest consumer protection lawsuit in American history," Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman said in a statement, per the AP. "We'll show ... that Meta concealed what it knew about the harm its products cause young people because looking away was more profitable." Meta, which says the states lack evidence of actual harm, is expected to argue that it has invested heavily in youth safety. The company also calls the suit a cash grab, per Reuters.
Penalties could theoretically reach $1.4 trillion. "The company is currently valued at about $1.5 trillion, making that kind of financial blow an existential threat," notes Gizmodo. State lawyers, however, have floated a far lower figure and are pushing for nationwide changes, including time restrictions and an end to infinite scrolling. Mark Zuckerberg and Instagram chief Adam Mosseri are expected to testify.
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