Meta faces $1.4 trillion liability in 30-state child privacy case
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Thirty US states, including California and New York, are pressing a child privacy suit against Meta that seeks more than $1 trillion in damages. The states demand structural changes to Instagram and Facebook, including an end to likes, infinite scroll, and algorithmic recommendations for young users. A New Mexico court has already fined Meta $942 million and ordered similar restrictions for under-18 users.
Key Facts
- Meta faces $1.4 trillion in potential liability in the child privacy case brought by 30 US states.
- Thirty US states, including California and New York, are seeking more than $1 trillion in damages from Meta.
- A New Mexico judge fined Meta $942 million and ordered removal of like counts for users under 18 and time-limited notifications.
- The 30-state suit demands parental verification, an end to likes and infinite scroll, algorithm changes, filter removal, an autoplay stop, a ban on multiple accounts, and removal of Stories.
- A decision against Meta would extend the New Mexico-style restrictions to the entire United States.
The 30-State Lawsuit
Hearings in the child privacy case brought by 30 US states against Meta are beginning, with California and New York among the plaintiffs. The states accuse Meta of targeting young users to make them platform-dependent and seek more than $1 trillion in damages. Meta faces $1.4 trillion in potential liability if it loses the landmark case. The case asks for sweeping changes to Instagram and Facebook rather than only monetary compensation.
Demanded Platform Changes
Plaintiff states demand parental verification for minor accounts before access is granted. They also seek to end like counts and infinite scrolling, change recommendation algorithms, and remove appearance-altering filters. Autoplay of videos would stop, users would be limited to a single account, and ephemeral content such as Stories would be removed. The measures target features that the states link to compulsive use among young users.
New Mexico Precedent
A New Mexico judge, Bryan Biedscheid, fined Meta $942 million in a related case and described the company as a threat to public health. The New Mexico ruling requires removal of like counts for users under 18 and limits notifications to specific hours. If the 30-state case is decided against Meta, those restrictions apply across the United States. The New Mexico decision provides a template for the broader state action against Meta.
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Meta faces $1.4 trillion liability in 30-state child privacy case
