Meta faces a significant lawsuit filed by 29 US state attorneys general alleging the company deliberately designed addictive products targeting young people while knowingly causing them harm. The trial, underway in Oakland, California, also charges that Meta unlawfully collects data on children under 13 without parental consent.
Arturo Béjar, a former safety engineer who worked at Meta in senior positions across two separate tenures, testified as the first witness called by the government. During his approximately eight years at the company, Béjar conducted research on child safety and directly briefed executives, including CEO Mark Zuckerberg, on problematic content on Facebook and Instagram. Béjar indicated he communicated with Zuckerberg around 100 times and sent an email in 2021 warning of harmful content and damage to teenage wellbeing. He said he felt the CEO had created a “false and misleading impression” regarding the company’s commitment to young people’s safety, noting that Zuckerberg never responded to his warnings despite publicly stating the company prioritizes safety over profit.
During testimony, Béjar described Meta’s reliance on advertising revenue and features such as infinite scroll that keep users engaged on platforms. He presented research findings showing 51% of teen Instagram users reported experiencing harmful content within a seven-day period, yet such content was removed only 0.02% of the time. Béjar also recounted personal experiences with his own teenage daughter receiving unwanted sexual advances and misogynistic content on Instagram, with reporting mechanisms proving ineffective.
Meta denies all allegations, with company attorneys arguing that while social media struggles are acknowledged, the platform has implemented tools to address safety concerns and prohibits users under 13. The company stated it has disabled over 1 million underage accounts. If Meta is found liable, potential damages could reach $200 billion, equivalent to the company’s 2025 annual revenue. The trial, expected to last at least six weeks, will include testimony from additional executives and mental health experts, along with extensive internal company documents and communications.
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