29 US states are suing Meta. What might it mean for the rest of the world?
A loss for Meta may force it to redesign Facebook and Instagram – and not just for US users.
A trial in the United States involving 29 states could significantly alter how Meta-owned platforms Facebook and Instagram function worldwide. The six-week-long Oakland trial, where California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey lead the case, alleges Meta intentionally designed the platforms to exploit the psychological vulnerabilities of young users. Former Meta safety engineer Arturo Béjar is among the key witnesses.
The four claims against Meta include exploitative product design, hiding research linking Instagram use to mental health issues, violating the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act, and breaching state consumer protection laws. Meta denies the allegations, stating they have acknowledged the potential negative impacts of social media and developed tools to address them.
If the jury rules in favor of the states, Meta might face massive fines and be required to redesign its platforms, which could potentially impact users globally. Moreover, the case could influence other countries' approach to social media regulation. Some nations, like Australia, have already committed to a proactive safety standard, known as a digital duty of care, requiring platforms to design safe products from the beginning.
As the trial unfolds in Oakland, the world will be watching closely to see how it will affect the future of social media.
Written by urgent.news from The Conversation AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
