California AG Bonta says case against Meta is about 'restitution and distortion,' not damages
· Technology · CNBC, Variety, Bloomberg
California Attorney General Rob Bonta said the federal trial against Meta centers on civil penalties, restitution and distortion rather than damages. The case, held at Oakland’s federal courthouse, is expected to last six to seven weeks and is co‑led by AGs from Colorado, New Jersey and Kentucky as part of a bipartisan group of 29 states. The states accused Meta of violating COPPA and consumer‑protection laws by design features that encourage addictive use by children. The AGs told Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers that a $200 billion penalty is a more realistic figure, while Meta’s lawyers warned that the consolidated case could reach $1.4 trillion, an estimate they deny. Bonta clarified that the states are not seeking the maximum figure warned by Meta. The outcome will determine whether Meta faces significant financial penalties and could prompt changes to its platform policies.
Why it matters
The trial could set a new precedent for enforcing COPPA and other consumer‑protection laws, affecting how major social‑media platforms operate with child users, including those in India.
Read the original report — CNBC
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