Washington State Attorney General Nick Brown spoke out last week on behalf of a bipartisan coalition of attorneys general from the country suing social media giant Meta, as the trial for their case finally got underway on Aug. 18.
The state attorneys general say they will prove Meta knowingly designed and launched features that “exploit young users’ vulnerabilities, foster compulsive use, and maximize the time young people spend on Facebook and Instagram.” The company, they say, released the harmful features even as it assured parents and the public that the platforms were safe for teens and children.
The attorneys general also allege that Meta illegally collected personal information from children under age 13 without getting parents’ consent. Collecting personal data on children is a violation of the federal Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act.
“People all over our state are concerned about social media, particularly its effects on children,” Brown said. “We will continue to work to ensure social media companies like Meta are doing everything they’re required to do to protect our kids.”
The trial has been a long time in coming.
First filed in late 2023 after years of nationwide investigation, the trial was delayed by Meta’s repeated attempts to get parts of the states’ case dismissed. Courts rejected those attempts, clearing the way for the attorneys general to present their case at trial, which started Aug. 18.
The case is being heard in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California and is expected to last six to eight weeks, according to Brown’s office. Along with monetary penalties, the AGs want the court to order Meta to stop unlawful practices and comply with all child protection laws. Watch AG Brown discuss the trial.
