Meta trial rocked by claim safety tools were 'designed to fail'
OAKLAND: A former employee testified on Wednesday that some of Meta’s safety tools for Facebook and Instagram were “designed to fail,” contradicting the company’s defence strategy in a landmark trial in California.
A former Meta employee testified on Wednesday that certain safety tools for Facebook and Instagram were designed to fail, challenging the company's defense in a significant trial in California. The case is being brought by a coalition of US states, who accuse Meta of intentionally designing its products to engage children and collect their data while deceiving the public.
The potential loss for Meta could result in a $200 billion penalty, significant business model changes, and industry-wide repercussions. While Meta acknowledges that some users, including teenagers, face negative experiences on its primary apps, the company claims it developed features to mitigate these risks. Notably, some of these safety tools were optional, requiring users to intentionally activate them, such as the 2021 "Take a Break" feature that prompted Instagram users to set reminders to step away from scrolling.
According to former Meta engineering director Arturo Bejar, who testified on the second day of the trial, Meta prioritized profits over user safety by encouraging prolonged usage on Facebook and Instagram. Bejar argued that the company's strategy entailed making safety features optional, including tools aimed at curbing endless scrolling and limiting enticing notifications.
Bejar contended that notifications were engineered to draw users back, thereby increasing time spent and revenue for the company. During opening statements on Tuesday, California prosecutor Megan O'Neill portrayed Meta's business model as one aimed at "hooking users, holding them for as long as possible, harvesting their data, and concealing the truth from the public."
Meta executives Mark Zuckerberg and Instagram head Adam Mosseri are among the anticipated key witnesses. However, California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced that Zuckerberg's appearance was uncertain. Before the trial commenced, Meta denied the allegations, asserting it had collaborated with parents, experts, and law enforcement to implement safeguards for children.
Written by urgent.news from New Straits Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
