A trial has begun in the United States in which 29 states accuse Meta of designing Facebook and Instagram to be addictive, in a case the Guardian reports as valued at around $200bn. Meta's response was not detailed in the available reporting.
Key facts
- Twenty-nine US states are seeking damages from Meta, according to the Guardian.
- The states allege Facebook and Instagram were addictive by design.
- The Guardian reports the case as valued at around $200bn.
- Observers have drawn comparisons to the 1990s big tobacco litigation, according to the Guardian.
- Meta's response to the allegations was not detailed in the available reporting.
A legal battle over the design of social media platforms has begun in the United States, with 29 states pursuing Meta over allegations that Facebook and Instagram were addictive by design, according to the Guardian.
The Guardian reports the case as valued at around $200bn. The states allege that Meta’s platforms were built to keep users engaged, a design choice they say caused harm. Meta’s response to these allegations was not detailed in the available reporting.
The Guardian drew a comparison to a landmark public health case from the 1990s. In 1994, more than 40 US states came together to sue one of the most powerful industries on Earth: big tobacco.
Those tobacco suits brought together diverse claims centred on tobacco companies’ misleading advertising and their contribution to a mounting public health crisis, according to the Guardian.
The tobacco litigation ended in a negotiated settlement with the US government, in which the companies agreed to pay more than any industry ever, and the states agreed to drop a large portion of their claims. The comparison, drawn by the Guardian, points to the potential scale and stakes of the current case against Meta.
Further details of the proceedings, including Meta’s defence and the specific legal claims, were not available in the reporting reviewed.
Why it matters
The case could influence how technology companies are held accountable for the design of their platforms and their effects on users. Comparisons to the historic tobacco settlements, drawn by the Guardian, underline the potential financial and regulatory stakes for the wider industry.
Frequently asked questions
How many US states are involved in the case against Meta?
According to the Guardian, 29 US states are seeking damages from Meta.
What are the states claiming about Facebook and Instagram?
The states claim that Meta's platforms, Facebook and Instagram, were addictive by design.
Why is this case compared to big tobacco litigation?
The Guardian notes that in 1994 more than 40 US states sued the tobacco industry over misleading advertising and a public health crisis, a case that ended in a record settlement, drawing parallels with the current action against Meta.