Meta's US Settlement and International Legal Proceedings
While Meta reached an $18 billion settlement with 29 US states, lawsuits filed against the company internationally, including in Kenya and the Netherlands, are ongoing.
Meta has reached an $18 billion settlement agreement with 29 US states over allegations that it designed products to addict youth. While the company agreed to implement platform regulations in the US, other lawsuits and legal proceedings over algorithms and content moderation opened around the world continue at full speed.
The $18 Billion Settlement in the US
Meta reached a settlement in a lawsuit filed by 29 US states alleging that it designed products to addict youth. The company agreed to pay $18 billion and introduce time limits for children's use of Facebook and Instagram.
Following this announcement, Meta's stock price increased. The amount anticipated for the settlement was considerably lower than the $200 billion demanded by the states and the figures estimated in the company's court filing.
Background of the Ethiopia Lawsuit
Abrham Meareg, whose chemistry professor father was killed during the civil war in Ethiopia in October 2021, stated that the Facebook algorithm actively promoted posts calling for murder. Meareg and the Foxglove organization stated that the content was not removed despite repeated requests.
Meareg filed a lawsuit in Kenya in 2022. Due to Meta's efforts to evade liability, this lawsuit faced prolonged legal delays, and the Kenyan high court most recently ruled that the case could proceed.
International Reflections
Although the settlement in the US is seen as a victory in terms of imposing oversight on tech companies, its global impacts present a mixed picture. The restrictions introduced on US platforms share similarities with regulations planned in the UK and Australia.
Netherlands-based Repro Uncensored is pursuing an ongoing legal process against Meta regarding allegations of discrimination against queer accounts and plans to take new steps across Europe.
The Company's Stance and Investigations
Meta declined to respond to questions regarding the lawsuits filed by Abrham Meareg and Repro Uncensored. The company previously denied allegations that it put safety before profits in Ethiopia and Myanmar.
The European Commission published a statement of objections against Meta over features that push users into compulsory usage. The company defends itself by arguing that it employs local personnel to catch infringing content.