{
  "id": 2001083,
  "title": "Ex-Meta executive says Zuckerberg put growth before child safety",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/19/ex-meta-executive-says-zuckerberg-put-growth-before-child-safety",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-19T19:37:02.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/world/20260820/ex-meta-executive-says-zuckerberg-put-growth-before-child-safety"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Oakland, California — Ex-Meta engineering director Arturo Bejar alleged on Wednesday that CEO Mark Zuckerberg prioritized growth over child safety on Facebook and Instagram. During his testimony in a multi-state lawsuit, Bejar, a vocal critic of Meta, claimed during the second day of proceedings that the company's top-down culture ensured product design changes consistently put engagement and growth ahead of child safety. California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey are among the states accusing Meta of intentionally designing the platforms to lure young users, potentially causing mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and even suicide. The states also accuse Meta of violating federal law by collecting and using personal data from children under 13 without parental consent. The trial, expected to last six weeks, began on Tuesday and includes Zuckerberg's anticipated testimony.",
  "summary": "OAKLAND, Calif. — A former engineering director at Meta Platforms testified on Wednesday that CEO Mark Zuckerberg fostered a culture that treated child safety as secondary to growth and engagement on Facebook and Instagram. Arturo Bejar, a vocal Meta critic, made the allegation during his second day of testimony in a landmark trial over claims brought by a coalition of states that could reshape…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "RTE News",
        "title": "Zuckerberg treated child safety as 'secondary': ex-worker",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/19/zuckerberg-treated-child-safety-as-secondary-ex-worker",
        "published": "2026-08-19T19:35:42.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "Ex-Meta executive says Zuckerberg put growth before child safety",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/19/ex-meta-executive-says-zuckerberg-put-growth-before-child-safety-2002760",
        "published": "2026-08-19T19:47:03.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Global News",
        "title": "Zuckerberg put growth before child safety, ex-Meta exec alleges",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/19/zuckerberg-put-growth-before-child-safety-ex-meta-exec-alleges",
        "published": "2026-08-19T20:12:35.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}