First Thing: Meta’s treatment of children on social media in spotlight as landmark trial set to begin
Several US states have accused Instagram and Facebook’s parent company of deliberately causing young people harm with its products. Plus: the Italian nuns fighting to keep control of their spot in the sun Good morning. More than half of the states in the US have joined together in an unprecedented lawsuit against Meta that goes to trial on Tuesday, accusing the parent company of Instagram and…
Several US states have united in a landmark lawsuit against Meta, the parent company of Instagram and Facebook, accusing the tech giant of deliberately causing harm to young people through its social media products. The 233-page lawsuit, filed in October 2023, alleges that Meta collects data on children under 13 without parental consent and refuses to eliminate harmful features prioritizing profit over safety.
The attorneys general claim that if found liable, Meta could face damages up to $200 billion, equivalent to the company's projected 2025 annual revenue. They also seek to compel Meta to redesign its products to ensure they are safer for children, potentially leading to long-term changes beyond mere fines. Meta denies all allegations, stating that the states are pursuing an "outrageous payout" without factual basis or legal justification, calling the claims "substantiated and financially disproportionate."
The lawsuit highlights growing concerns about the impact of social media on young users, with recent incidents, such as a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, the Lincoln, setting a record for the longest sea voyage without docking, and a US guided-missile destroyer stranded for four days with no power in the South China Sea, further illustrating the complexities and challenges faced by modern naval operations.
Written by urgent.news from The Guardian US's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
