Meta Faces Landmark Trial Over Alleged Predatory Design and Child Privacy Violations
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California and 28 other states accuse the social media giant of using a 'hook, hold, harvest, hide' strategy to target children.
A landmark trial has opened in Oakland, California, where Meta is facing accusations from California and 28 other US states regarding the design of its platforms and the privacy of children. As The Guardian first reported, Megan O’Neill, a lawyer for the state of California, alleges that Meta employs a business model described as "hook, hold, harvest, hide"—designed to attract users, keep them on the platforms, collect their data, and conceal the truth from the public.
The lawsuit claims the $1.36tn company violated state consumer protection laws and federal child privacy laws by collecting data on children under 13 without parental consent. Former Meta safety engineer Arturo Béjar testified that the company utilizes a "don't ask, don't tell" approach to child safety. Béjar presented a 2021 survey showing 51% of teens reported harmful experiences on Instagram in a single week, while content was removed only 0.02% of the time.
Meta has denied the allegations. Company spokesperson Liza Crenshaw characterized the states' pursuit of damages as an "outlandish payout," while attorney Paul Schmidt stated that Meta does not allow children under 13 to register and has disabled over 1 million such accounts.
If found liable by Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, Meta could face damages as high as $200bn, an amount equal to the company's 2025 annual revenue. The states are also seeking court-ordered changes to product designs. The proceedings are expected to last six to eight weeks and may feature testimony from Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg.