tech
'Accountability has arrived': dual US court losses show shifting tide against Meta and co
With two unprecedented trial defeats, big tech firms face crisis akin to that faced by cigarette makers in the 1990s
TL;DR
- Meta and YouTube have been found liable by juries for designing products that inflict harm on young people.
- A New Mexico jury ordered Meta to pay $375 million over claims of child sexual exploitation, while a California jury ordered Meta and YouTube to pay $6 million for designing addictive products for young users.
- These cases are the first to go to trial, with over 2,000 plaintiffs suing Meta, YouTube, TikTok, and Snap.
- The California jury found Meta and YouTube acted with malice, oppression, and fraud, signaling a shift in public perception and potentially leading to industry-wide changes.
- Meta and YouTube plan to appeal the verdicts, with Meta stating that teen mental health is complex and not solely linked to one app.
- Lawsuits against social media companies are being compared to the litigation faced by big tobacco companies in the 1990s.
- Internal company documents revealed admissions about designing platforms for engagement and targeting young users.
- The cases aim to force social media companies to redesign their products and enhance child protection measures online.