Major Meta Trial Begins as Lawyers Spar Over Witnesses, Damages

Facebook parent company Meta is set to defend itself in a landmark social media trial in California, where lawyers are already sparring over witnesses and potential financial penalties.

A coalition of US states sued Meta in 2023, with California, Colorado, Kentucky and New Jersey selected to represent the states in the trial.

The states are expected to argue that Meta deliberately designed Facebook and Instagram to be addictive to children and violated state and federal laws.

One of the key witnesses is Arturo Bejar, a former Meta employee and expert witness who has previously testified against the company.

Meta recently sought to prevent Bejar from testifying, but Federal Judge Yvonne Rogers rejected the request, describing it as an attempt to eliminate a strong witness for the plaintiffs.

Bejar is expected to be questioned about Meta’s safety practices, its growth strategies and whether the company publicly misrepresented what it knew about the potential harms associated with its platforms.

Meta has also asked the judge to restrict the testimony of another expert witness, Colin Gray, whom the states intend to question about so-called “dark patterns”, design features allegedly intended to influence users into making choices preferred by a company.

The trial is expected to focus heavily on how social media platforms are designed, the potential impact on young users and whether Meta knowingly prioritised growth over user safety.

Meta, which has more than three billion users worldwide, has rejected allegations that it deliberately designed its platforms to harm children.

The case could have significant implications for the technology industry, particularly over how social media companies design products used by children and teenagers.

The proceedings will also determine whether Meta could face substantial financial penalties if the states succeed in proving their allegations.