Meta agrees to $18bn deal over child safety claims
Meta has agreed to pay up to $18 billion to settle claims brought by 29 US states alleging that Facebook and Instagram failed to adequately protect children. The agreement, reached on Wednesday, brought an unexpectedly early end to a closely watched legal case. The trial had been expected to continue for weeks, but proceedings lasted only five days and ended before Meta chief executive Mark Zuckerberg was called to testify. The case formally focused on children's online privacy and the company's handling of data belonging to users under 13. It was brought under the US Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), a law introduced nearly three decades ago, before today's major social media platforms existed. However, the case also placed Meta's broader approach to child safety under intense scrutiny. Evidence raises questions over safety measures During the proceedings, former Instagram […]