'Hook, harvest, hide': States slam Meta's secret strategy on first day of jury trial

OAKLAND, Calif. (CN) — A Northern California jury heard opening statements Tuesday by state attorneys general and Meta in a seismic federal trial over whether the tech giant deceived the public about addictive features of its social media platforms and their risks to teen mental health.

The blockbuster trial in U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers’ courtroom — the first in the multidistrict litigation of more than 3,000 active cases — pits the parent company of Facebook and Instagram against California, Colorado, Kentucky and New Jersey. Another 25 states that sued Meta in 2023 will head to trial later.

The states claim Meta violated the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, a federal law that requires online companies to obtain verifiable parental consent for users under 13 years old.

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