A US federal judge rejected Meta Platforms' attempt to dismiss a lawsuit by dozens of state attorneys general accusing the company of designing Facebook and Instagram to be addictive to children and hiding the harm. The ruling by Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers in Oakland, California, denied Meta's motion to dismiss claims of deception, unfair business practices, and violations of the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act. The judge found it undisputed that Meta failed to properly notify parents or obtain consent before collecting data from children under 13. The 38-page ruling stated that a jury must resolve factual disagreements, including whether Meta's platforms are addictive and whether the company falsely denied designing them that way. The case will now proceed to trial, allowing both sides to present evidence on how the platforms' design affects young users.
Meta Platforms Inc.Judge rejected Meta's motion to dismiss lawsuit over child addiction and privacy violations, allowing trial to proceed.