Meta is currently defending itself in a federal civil trial in Oakland, California, where 29 state attorneys general are accusing the company of violating the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) by improperly collecting personal data from children under 13 without parental consent.
This trial follows previous legal setbacks for Meta, including a landmark case where a jury found the company liable for app design features harming young users, and a New Mexico ruling ordering Meta to pay over $940 million for creating a public nuisance and causing psychological harm to children.
The attorneys general, led by representatives from California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey, also claim Meta made deceptive statements about its platforms, potentially misleading consumers. The core of the case focuses on Meta's Facebook and Instagram apps, with plaintiffs arguing that the company deliberately designed features to hook children and harvest their data.
Meta, however, maintains it complied with COPPA, denies deceptive practices, and asserts protection under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which shields platforms from liability for user-generated content. The company's legal team highlighted numerous safety features implemented over the years and suggested some responsibility lies with users for managing their time and content exposure.
Key testimony has come from a former Meta employee who stated that Mark Zuckerberg did not prioritize youth safety and that a culture existed where growth-focused features could be tested without adequate screening for potential harms. The trial, though temporarily paused due to a sick juror, could have significant implications beyond financial penalties, potentially forcing Meta to overhaul core features like age-gating, time limits, "likes," and algorithmic transparency for younger users.
While Meta has a history of navigating scandals, this trial presents a potentially significant challenge. Unlike other social media companies that have settled similar lawsuits, Meta chose to go to trial. If the judge rules in favor of the attorneys general, it could mark a pivotal moment in holding Meta accountable for how its platforms impact impressionable young users, potentially shifting the company's "growth-at-all-costs" ethos.
