{
  "id": 1677659,
  "title": "Major Meta trial begins as lawyers spar over witnesses, damages",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/major-meta-trial-begins-as-lawyers-spar-over-witnesses-damages-1677659",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-18T09:16:50.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Punch Nigeria",
    "slug": "punch-nigeria",
    "url": "https://punchng.com/major-meta-trial-begins-as-lawyers-spar-over-witnesses-damages/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "A trial against Meta has begun in California, with four US states - California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey - accusing the company of making Facebook and Instagram addictive for children. The states claim that Meta misled the public about the safety of its platforms and deliberately made them addictive for minors.\n\nThe states are seeking around $200 billion in damages, according to DW News, as well as significant changes to Meta's core platforms. They also allege that Meta is violating privacy laws by collecting data on children under 13 without their parents' consent. The case is part of a coalition of 29 states that sued Meta in 2023.\n\nMeta founder and chief executive Mark Zuckerberg is expected to testify during the trial, along with former Meta employee Arturo Bejar, who will speak about the company's safety practices. Lawyers for the states and Meta are disputing witnesses and damages.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 8,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Associated Press",
        "title": "A look at major lawsuits against Meta and other social media companies over harms to kids",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/a-look-at-major-lawsuits-against-meta-and-other-social-media",
        "published": "2026-08-18T03:53:01.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Winnipeg Free Press",
        "title": "Opening arguments set to begin in Meta’s federal trial over child harms",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/opening-arguments-set-to-begin-in-metas-federal-trial-over-child-harms",
        "published": "2026-08-18T04:02:55.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Economic Times Tech",
        "title": "A look at major lawsuits against Meta, other social media companies over harms to kids",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/a-look-at-major-lawsuits-against-meta-other-social-media-companies",
        "published": "2026-08-18T05:10:09.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Major Meta trial begins as lawyers spar over witnesses, damages",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/major-meta-trial-begins-as-lawyers-spar-over-witnesses-damages",
        "published": "2026-08-18T05:32:53.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "Major Meta trial begins as lawyers spar over witnesses, damages",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/major-meta-trial-begins-as-lawyers-spar-over-witnesses-damages-1644112",
        "published": "2026-08-18T05:39:10.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "DW News",
        "title": "Meta trial over social media harm to children begins",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/meta-trial-over-social-media-harm-to-children-begins",
        "published": "2026-08-18T08:02:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Punch",
        "title": "Major Meta trial begins as lawyers spar over witnesses, damages",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/major-meta-trial-begins-as-lawyers-spar-over-witnesses-damages-1677836",
        "published": "2026-08-18T09:16:50.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}