Sign up for alerts on breaking news and exclusive reporting from NPROAKLAND, Calif.- An attorney representing a consortium of states hurled sharp accusations at Meta Platforms in federal court in Oakland on Tuesday, at the start of the latest trial in a web of cases that aim to hold social media companies accountable for alleged harms to the mental health of young users."Meta's business model can be summed up in four simple words: 'hook' the users, 'hold' them for as long as they can, 'harvest' their data, and then 'hide' the truth from the public when making public statements," California Deputy Attorney General Megan O'Neill said in her opening statement."It was especially bad for kids," she said.The stakes in this case are sky-high, with an initial estimate of potential penalties as high as $1.4 trillion — roughly the entire value of Meta's equity on the Nasdaq.
Some legal experts compare this moment to landmark litigation against tobacco companies in the 1990s that forced them into big settlements and changed their behavior — and the public discussion about the risks of cigarettes.Lawyers representing California, Colorado, Kentucky and New Jersey allege that Meta designed its flagship products, Instagram and Facebook, to be addictive to minors with algorithms that "encourage compulsive use" and features like infinite scroll, photo filters and the "like" button.The states say the company knew the platforms were dangerous to kids, but misled the public about the risks.The states also accuse Meta of violating the federal Children's Online Privacy Protection Act, or COPPA, by gathering personal data about users under 13 and not getting parental consent.Meta has denied these allegations, and the company's attorneys will make their own opening arguments next.In a statement emailed to NPR, Meta said the states' claims are unsubstantiated, and that the company stands by its record of creating strong protections for teens, including enhanced privacy settings and a ...