A collective lawsuit has been filed against Meta and its social media platforms, Facebook and Instagram, in Australia, with officials alleging that the companies' design features are causing harm to children and adolescents.
A class-action lawsuit has been filed in the Federal Court on behalf of eight applicants, seeking damages for Facebook and Instagram users who allegedly suffered harm from exposure to objectionable content or developed a social media dependency.
A confidentiality order was issued by the court on Monday, prohibiting the disclosure of information related to the lawsuit and the identities of the parties involved, as per court records.
Meta has issued a statement confirming its awareness of the demand and expressing its intention to vigorously defend its position.
Litigation Lending Services has announced its support for a collective action on behalf of Australian families, enabling them to pursue a lawsuit against a major global technology company despite potential financial constraints.
The design and operation of social media platforms have significant implications for Australian children and adolescents, prompting important considerations about their impact.
Meta has agreed to a settlement in the United States, potentially totaling up to $17.7 billion, to resolve multiple lawsuits alleging the company intentionally designed its platforms to target younger users.
MEPs (afp and Reuters)
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