Meta suffered two landmark legal defeats in the United States within roughly 48 hours, in cases concerning child safety and the design of its digital platforms.
In the first case, in New Mexico, a jury imposed a $375 million fine on Meta, ruling that the company misled the public about the safety of its platforms for children and failed to adequately protect them from sexual content and contact with pedophiles.
During the trial, internal documents and testimonies were presented showing that the company was aware of the scale of the problem, while its own research indicated that 16% of users had been exposed to unwanted sexual content.
The ruling in the second case may set a legal precedent for more than 1,000 similar lawsuits filed by users against platforms.
In the second case, in California, Meta and Google (for YouTube) were found liable for negligence in the design of their platforms, which was deemed to promote addiction and contribute to the severe deterioration of a minor user’s mental health. The user filed a lawsuit accusing the companies of getting her addicted to their platforms from a young age and causing anxiety, body dysmorphia, and suicidal thoughts.
The court ruled that the companies were aware of the associated risks but failed to adequately warn users. Damages amounted to approximately $3 million, with Meta bearing 70% of the responsibility. It is also worth noting that Snap and TikTok were also named in the same lawsuit but reached out-of-court settlements before the trial began.
The California ruling is considered particularly significant, as it may serve as a precedent for more than 1,000 similar lawsuits against social media companies, increasing pressure for changes in how platforms are designed and operated, according to CNN.
Sources: BBC, CNN
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