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Instagram chief executive Adam Mosseri rejected claims that his company withheld negative information from the public in the case brought by 29 U.S. states against Meta. According to a report by The Guardian, Mosseri testified in the case being heard at a federal court in the state of California.
In the lawsuit, which addresses allegations that Meta designed its products to create addiction among young people, leading to mental health issues including anxiety, depression and suicide, Mosseri answered questions related to accusations that the company concealed negative information from the public.
Mosseri denied the allegations, stating, "I am not trying to encourage my team to hide anything." Responding to a question about why data showing low usage rates for Instagram's youth safety features was not shared with the public, Mosseri said, "We don't publish every single statistic."
As the lawsuit against Meta in the U.S., which accuses the company of "harming children's mental health," continues, a former employee of the company had previously alleged that Meta prioritized financial interests over child safety.
The trial, which is expected to last for weeks, is set to hear testimony from a large number of people, including senior executives, current and former employees, and psychology experts.
During the hearings, the court will address claims based on state laws in California, Colorado, Kentucky and New Jersey, four of the 29 states suing Meta, while the remaining states' claims are based on federal law, along with the company's defense. The "design and addiction" accusations brought by the other 25 states will be addressed later in separate hearings.
In the case, where the jury will serve only in an advisory role, Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers will issue the final ruling on whether Meta is liable and on any penalties or sanctions to be imposed.
The outcome of the case is expected to potentially influence lawsuits in other states, could alter how Facebook and Instagram operate, and may force Meta to pay billions of dollars in penalties.
Meta has stated that it could face penalties of up to $1.4 trillion if it loses the case, an amount described as close to the company's market value and unprecedented in legal history.
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