41 US states sue Meta
A coalition of 41 US states has filed a lawsuit against Meta, alleging that the company intentionally maintains features on its platforms that harm young users.
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According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, a lawsuit has been filed in Northern California against Meta, the parent company of social media platforms Instagram and Facebook, through a joint initiative by 41 US states and the District of Columbia.
40 ATTORNEYS WORKING ON THE CASE
The report stated that at least 40 attorneys are working on the lawsuit, which accuses Meta of misleading the public. It is alleged that Meta intentionally marketed its products to children under the age of 13, who are prohibited from accessing the platforms under federal law and company policies.
LAWSUIT FILED BY 41 STATES
The lawsuit, which aims to force Meta to change its product features and draw attention to the harms faced by young users, was filed through the initiative of 41 states in total, including 33 states in federal court and 9 state attorneys general. The case was launched after mediation attempts with Meta, conducted as part of a joint investigation by Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti and Colorado Attorney General Philip Weiser, failed.
Describing the case as "a battlefield aimed at protecting public health," Skrmetti stated, "This (lawsuit) is a liability on the level of tobacco products and the fight against drugs."
The indictment notes that despite information provided by independent expert analyses and internal research on social media platforms, Meta has not abandoned its known harmful features, emphasizing that "(Meta) doubled down on efforts to misrepresent, conceal, and downplay the impact of these features on the mental and physical health of young users."