{
  "id": 1838914,
  "title": "‘Big Tobacco moment’: Meta faces US$200b trial over Instagram and Facebook addiction in kids",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/19/big-tobacco-moment-meta-faces-us-200b-trial-over-instagram-and",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-19T01:06:27.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Malay Mail",
    "slug": "malay-mail-malaymail",
    "url": "https://www.malaymail.com/news/money/2026/08/19/big-tobacco-moment-meta-faces-us200b-trial-over-instagram-and-facebook-addiction-in-kids/231846"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Oakland, August 19 - In a trial likened to the \"big tobacco moment\" for social media, Meta faced charges in a federal court that it knowingly hooked and exploited children on Instagram and Facebook. Attorney General Phil Weiser of Colorado explained that the states are stepping in where Congress has failed, as this case involves public health and marketing to children that has caused harm. During opening statements, California prosecutor Megan O'Neill painted Meta's business model as one that \"hooked the users, held them for as long as they can, harvest their data, and then hide the truth from the public.\" Despite acknowledging that some users had negative experiences on the apps, Meta's lawyer Paul Schmidt argued that the company had introduced tools to help users. Former Meta engineering director Arturo Bejar testified that during Facebook's early years, \"the goal was to get things into the hands of users as fast as possible, which meant that a lot of the time, safety or security was an afterthought.\" The trial, which could force major changes in Meta's practices, might be one of the most consequential lawsuits if it leads to significant alterations in the company's operations.",
  "summary": "OAKLAND, Aug 19 — Meta knowingly hooked and exploited children, a US federal court heard Tuesday in a trial agains...",
  "key_points": [
    "Meta faces $200 billion trial over alleged child exploitation on Instagram and Facebook",
    "Attorney General Phil Weiser says states are acting where Congress has failed",
    "Former Meta engineer says early focus was on rapid product rollout over safety"
  ],
  "editors_take": "This trial marks a significant shift in accountability for social media companies, as policymakers step in to address alleged harm to children, potentially forcing major changes in Meta's business practices.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "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."
}