Meta is in the midst of one of its biggest trials to date regarding the harmful effects of social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram on children, and it’s a case that forces Meta to face potentially large fees as a result of alleged negligence and lack of oversight on child protection, but the case isn’t primarily about money, according to California AG Rob Bonta.
Speaking to the courts on Tuesday, August 18, Bonta said that the case isn’t primarily about money, but rather it’s about “civil penalties, restitution, and distortion.”
Earlier this week, it was reported that Meta would be headed into court in a huge trial involving 30 different states over Facebook and Instagram’s violations of children’s privacy and the harmful effects that both platforms have the mental health of kids. Back on August 11, thousands of cases surrounding this issue were cleared to proceed, and Meta was in court for its first day on August 17.
California AG says that the lawsuit is not asking Meta for $1.4 trillion in this case
Meta could face a particularly large penalty in this case, amounting to a total of $1.4 trillion if it were to lose the case, but Bonta has clarified that Meta is not being asked for such a sum. “To be clear, we are not asking for $1.4 trillion dollars,” Bonta said. Bonta clarifies that this is simply the highest possible number that could be calculated based on data that was gathered for the case. He also states that the sum was estimated by Meta.
The $1.4 trillion figure came up because it’s a penalty that could be reached as a result of the case, however, a more realistic penalty is about $200 million. According to Bonta, the plaintiffs in the case will be seeking “significant financial gain in the form of total existing civil penalties.” The actual penalty sum will be decided on by the judge presiding over the case, which is Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, the same judge who has presided over Apple’s case against Epic over App Store fees.
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