Meta Faces Potential $1.4 Trillion Damages in Child Safety Trial
· Technology · Fortune, The Independent, France 24
Meta Platforms faces a federal trial in Oakland, California, regarding allegations that it deliberately designed Facebook and Instagram to addict children. Plaintiffs, including California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey, claim the company collects data on children under 13 without parental consent. Meta disclosed in a legal filing that potential damages could reach $1.4 trillion, a figure nearly equivalent to its entire market capitalization. The company disputes these allegations, maintaining that its platforms are committed to supporting young users. A total of 29 states have filed lawsuits against the company, with the remaining 25 expected to face trial at a later date.
Why it matters
A ruling against Meta could result in unprecedented financial penalties or structural changes to its platforms, potentially forcing the company into bankruptcy or state-mandated oversight.
Read the original report — Fortune
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