Hook, hold, harvest and hide: Meta's alleged strategy laid out in first week

In the opening week of a landmark trial, California and 28 other US states accused Meta, the owner of Facebook and Instagram, of employing a four-step strategy to design addictive platforms, hold users on them, harvest their data, and hide the truth from the public. According to Megan O'Neill, a lawyer representing California, Meta's business model particularly thrives on younger users.

The lawsuit alleges that Meta violated federal child privacy laws and state-level consumer protection laws by collecting data from children under 13 without parental consent. Over the course of the trial, the jury is expected to hear from Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri, former Meta employees, and a psychologist.

The states are seeking damages of up to $200bn and are also demanding that Meta redesign its products to ensure they are safer for children, potentially altering the company's business model. Meta has denied all allegations, arguing that it has introduced tools to mitigate potential issues. The trial, which is expected to last six to eight weeks, is being led by attorneys from California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey.