Meta Agrees To $18B Settlement Over Claims Its Platforms Harmed Children
aiinsider ·
Meta has agreed to an $18 billion settlement with 48 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and three territories to resolve claims that its Facebook and Instagram platforms harmed children. The settlement, approved by California Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, will be paid in annual installments over ten years. While denying wrongdoing, Meta committed to new teen protections, including default nighttime notification blocks, a two-hour daily time limit, hidden like counts, and alerts about extended usage. The settlement stems from a lawsuit originally filed in 2023 by 29 states, with a jury trial beginning last week in Oakland, California, that drew on internal Meta documents. California Attorney General Rob Bonta said the trial had gone poorly for Meta and urged other platforms like TikTok and YouTube to adopt similar safety measures. Meta’s chief legal officer CJ Mahoney stated the framework would help parents manage children’s access, though broader industry adoption would be needed for full effectiveness. New Mexico was not part of the settlement because it pursued a separate case that resulted in a public nuisance ruling against Meta last month.
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