Aug 26 (Reuters) - Meta Platforms reached a settlement to resolve claims brought by states across the country that the company designed Instagram and Facebook to addict children, misled consumers about their safety, and improperly collected personal data of children who used its platforms, court papers show.
The deal was reached during a California federal court trial over claims brought by 29 states, averting one of the highest-profile tests yet of allegations that social media companies harmed young users. Just days before jury selection began on August 12, a federal appeals court declined to halt the trial.
The claims are part of a broader wave of litigation brought by states, local governments, school districts and individuals alleging Meta and other social media companies fueled a nationwide youth mental health crisis.
The federal trial covered claims from the attorneys general of California, Colorado, Kentucky and New Jersey that Meta violated their state laws protecting consumers.
The trial also covered claims from 29 states that Meta violated the federal Children's Online Privacy Protection Act by collecting personal data from users it knew were children without parental notification or consent, and using the data to train machine learning and generative AI models.
#meta #brought #children
The deal was reached during a California federal court trial over claims brought by 29 states, averting one of the highest-profile tests yet of allegations that social media companies harmed young users. Just days before jury selection began on August 12, a federal appeals court declined to halt the trial.
The claims are part of a broader wave of litigation brought by states, local governments, school districts and individuals alleging Meta and other social media companies fueled a nationwide youth mental health crisis.
The federal trial covered claims from the attorneys general of California, Colorado, Kentucky and New Jersey that Meta violated their state laws protecting consumers.
The trial also covered claims from 29 states that Meta violated the federal Children's Online Privacy Protection Act by collecting personal data from users it knew were children without parental notification or consent, and using the data to train machine learning and generative AI models.
#meta #brought #children
18 days ago
