Meta is facing a federal trial in Oakland, California, where four states accuse the company of misleading the public about the risks its platforms pose to young users and of designing addictive features on Instagram and Facebook. The theoretical maximum penalties could reach $1.4 trillion, equivalent to the company’s entire market value. This staggering figure reflects the potential number of people affected by Meta’s practices, even though teens account for less than 1% of the company’s revenue. The case, which relies partly on COPPA, could set a precedent for the entire tech industry, including generative AI and video games. Beyond the financial stakes, the core question is whether social media platforms can be held liable for the very design of their interfaces.
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