A few US states are demanding $1.4 trillion in damages from Meta for alleged harms to young users, in a federal trial that began this week in Oakland, before Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, with the case stemming from a lawsuit filed in October 2023 by a coalition of 29 state attorneys general, though only California, Colorado, Kentucky and New Jersey are trying this first case. A few key details: The Washington Post Benzinga
- The $1.4 trillion figure actually comes from Meta's own estimate of its maximum potential exposure — not a number the states themselves put forward. Meta's attorneys have said the case could lead to damages as high as $1.4 trillion, while lawyers for the states have suggested $200 billion is more realistic. Yahoo! CNBC
- Meta has called the $1.4 trillion figure unsubstantiated and without historical precedent. Crypto Briefing
- Zuckerberg and Instagram head Adam Mosseri are both on the states' witness list, so a courtroom appearance is plausible, though not yet confirmed on a schedule. Benzinga
- Beyond money, the states are asking the judge to force Meta to implement age restrictions, eliminate infinite scroll, and make other platform changes. The Irish Times
- This comes on the heels of real losses for Meta: a Los Angeles jury found Meta and Google liable for harm to a young woman's platform addiction, awarding $6 million, and a New Mexico court ordered Meta to pay a further $567 million on top of a $375 million penalty. PetaPixel
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Four states are suing the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, alleging that the platforms were designed to hook kids and that Meta hid the mental health risks.
US states are suing the social media giant to force an overhaul of its platforms for young users.