Meta is gearing up for a significant trial starting Tuesday following two prior losses this year related to child safety issues. Jury selection was conducted in Oakland, Calif., last week for the federal trial presided over by U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzales Rogers. Although an eight-person jury will provide input, Judge Rogers will make the final decision independently.
Anticipated to span six weeks, the trial may see Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Instagram head Adam Mosseri taking the stand. The lawsuit dates back almost three years when multiple states, led by officials from different political affiliations, jointly filed a lawsuit in California federal court. The legal action alleged that Meta, which owns Facebook, Messenger, Instagram, and WhatsApp, violated federal law by gathering data from users under 13 without parental consent.
The extensive complaint claimed that Meta engaged in misleading practices to mask the harmful and addictive nature of its platforms for young users while profiting from their attention through data collection and targeted advertising. The trial’s initial phase involves four states: California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey, with the possibility of additional trials in other states later.
Meta’s attempt to prevent a key witness, Arturo Béjar, from testifying was rejected by Judge Rogers last week. Béjar, a former Facebook engineering director, testified earlier this year in a case brought by New Mexico, revealing internal knowledge indicating Facebook’s negative impact on teens and inadequacies in safety features.
While the states have not disclosed the monetary damages sought, Meta has warned of potential financial liabilities reaching up to $1.4 trillion in its legal filings. The company disputes the allegations, emphasizing its efforts to support young users and highlighting safety enhancements introduced since the lawsuit’s initiation.
In a separate case in New Mexico, Meta faced substantial penalties, contributing to a recent profit decline. The company is also entangled in legal battles in Los Angeles and Tennessee over similar issues of platform addiction and harm to young users. Additionally, Meta faces litigation in Canada concerning alleged harms to young users.