US states seek US$200bil penalty in blockbuster Meta lawsuit
With more than three billion users across all of its apps, Meta will defend itself in the six-week-long trial beginning on Aug 18.
A coalition of U.S. states will seek approximately $200 billion in damages against Meta in a landmark trial, which begins on Tuesday in Oakland. The states accuse Meta of intentionally designing Facebook and Instagram to be addictive for children. Meta had previously claimed that the financial penalties could reach $1.4 trillion, nearly equal to its entire market value of around $1.5 trillion.
The six-week trial will see Meta defend itself against allegations, with opening statements set for August 18. If found guilty, Meta may face changes to its core apps and a hefty financial penalty. The states have disputed Meta's claim of seeking $1.4 trillion in damages, stating they believe the figure was intended for shock value.
They will instead seek around $193 billion in damages. Prosecutors from California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey will argue that Meta violated federal and state laws regarding children's safety and privacy online. Meta denies the allegations and is confident in its own commitment to young people. The company will not be allowed to block a key witness, former employee Arturo Bejar, from testifying about Meta's practices and potential evidence destruction.
Eight individuals have been selected as the advisory jury, with a verdict expected by early October.
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- US states seek US$200bil penalty in blockbuster Meta lawsuit freemalaysiatoday.com
