Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri denied allegations in a federal case against Meta in California that the company withheld negative information from the public. Mosseri said he had not directed his team to conceal any information.
The case examines allegations that Meta designed its products in a way that could lead to addiction among young people and that these products were linked to mental health problems, including anxiety, depression and suicide.
The court also asked why data on the low usage rates of Instagram's safety features for young people had not been shared with the public. Mosseri said the company had not published all of its statistics.
A case involving 29 states
In the case brought against Meta in the United States over allegations that it harmed children's mental health, one of the company's former employees also claimed that Meta placed financial interests ahead of child safety.
The hearings are expected to last for weeks. In addition to senior executives, current and former Meta employees and psychology experts are expected to testify.
Four of the 29 states that sued Meta — California, Colorado, Kentucky and New Jersey — are basing their allegations on state laws. The other states are bringing allegations based on federal laws before the court. The design and addiction allegations brought by the other 25 states will be addressed in separate proceedings at a later date.
The judge will have the final say
In the case, where the jury will have only an advisory role, Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers will make the final decision on Meta's liability and any penalties or sanctions to be imposed.
The outcome of the case could affect similar cases in other states, lead to changes in how Facebook and Instagram operate, and force Meta to pay billions of dollars in penalties. Meta said it could face penalties of up to $1.4 trillion if it loses the case.
