Symbolic imageMeta on trial over youth addiction as court clears thousands of suits
Meta goes on trial in Oakland on Wednesday over claims it designed Facebook and Instagram to addict minors. Four US states seek up to $1.4 trillion.
California's attorney general brought the case, joined by Colorado, Kentucky and New Jersey. After jury selection, arguments are due to begin on Tuesday, 18 August and run six weeks, with testimony from Mark Zuckerberg expected as the high point, Le Monde reports. The sum sought is close to Meta's market value; the company, which denies the allegations, calls a penalty of that size unprecedented in consumer protection enforcement.
Appeals court clears thousands of suits
The Ninth Circuit ruled on Monday, 10 August that more than 3,000 suits against Meta, TikTok, Google and Snap can proceed: Section 230 is a defence against liability, not immunity from suit. The court left open whether the shield covers product design and refused Meta's request to delay the Oakland trial.
Sanction for destroyed evidence
The same day, judge P. Casey Pitts sanctioned Meta for destroying evidence in Australian mining magnate Andrew Forrest's suit over fraudulent crypto ads using his image, finding gross negligence rather than intent.
New Mexico bill grows
A New Mexico judge ordered Meta on Thursday, 6 August to pay $567m into a teen mental health fund, on top of $375m in penalties from a March jury verdict.
Other opinions
Breitbart sets the trials against a global wave of curbs on minors' social media use and counts 29 plaintiff states at Oakland, against four named by Le Monde.