Meta Faces Landmark US Trial Over Alleged Harm To Children

Facebook parent Meta is set to defend itself in a landmark social media trial beginning Tuesday in California, where lawyers have been locked in disputes over witnesses, damages and the scope of testimony.

A coalition of US states sued Meta in 2023, with California, Colorado, Kentucky and New Jersey selected to represent them at the trial.

The states will argue that Meta deliberately designed Facebook and Instagram to be addictive to children, in violation of state and federal laws.

Meta recently sought to prevent former employee and expert witness Arturo Bejar from testifying. But Federal Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers rejected the request, describing it as a “Hail Mary” attempt to eliminate a strong witness for the plaintiffs.

Bejar has previously testified against Meta, including in a New Mexico case that the company lost. Lawyers for the four states are expected to question him about Meta’s safety and growth practices, and whether the company misrepresented what it knew about potential risks to children.

Meta has also asked the judge to restrict the testimony of another potential expert witness, Colin Grey, who is expected to discuss “dark patterns” — features designed to manipulate users into making choices that benefit a company.

Meta founder and chief executive Mark Zuckerberg is among the high-profile witnesses expected to testify.

A Meta spokesperson told AFP that the company “strongly disagrees” with the allegations.

During a hearing last week, a lawyer for the states said they are seeking about $ 200 billion in damages, rejecting Meta’s claim that the states could pursue penalties exceeding $1 trillion.

The states are also demanding changes to Meta’s apps and business practices.

Eight people were selected last week to serve on an advisory jury, although the judge will make the final decision. The trial is expected to last about six weeks, with a verdict anticipated by early October.

The case is being closely watched because it could become one of the most consequential legal challenges over social media’s impact on children’s mental health and safety.

Stanford law professor Nora Freeman Engstrom described the case as potentially the beginning of a “broader reckoning” for Meta, particularly over the gap between what the company knew internally and what it disclosed publicly.

Legal experts have also drawn comparisons with the US tobacco industry, which faced lawsuits from dozens of states over allegations that companies downplayed the health risks of their products.

A landmark 1998 settlement resulted in financial penalties and restrictions on tobacco marketing. According to the National Association of Attorneys General, the tobacco companies have paid more than 176 billion dollars under the agreement and are expected to continue paying billions of dollars annually.

The Meta case could similarly put pressure on the company to change how its platforms are designed and operated, particularly regarding children and teenagers.