Meta Faces 29 States in Court Tuesday. The Case Could Be Big Tech’s Big Tobacco Moment.
Meta is back in court facing 29 states over allegations it designed addictive products for kids -- and the stakes extend far beyond one company.
Meta Platforms is set to face 29 states in a federal courtroom on Tuesday, as attorneys general from across the country seek to prove that the social media giant knowingly designed Facebook and Instagram to be addictive to children. The case, which comes on the heels of a recent $1 billion judgment against Meta in New Mexico, hinges on allegations that the company's features such as infinite scroll, likes, autoplay, and algorithmic recommendations were intentionally engineered to hook younger users.
Additionally, the states claim that Meta violated the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) by collecting personal data from children under 13 without parental consent. If successful, the outcome could set a precedent for how Big Tech companies are held accountable for the potential harm their platforms may cause to vulnerable users.
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