During his testimony at a federal courthouse in Oakland, California, Adam Mosseri responded to inquiries about whether Meta's legal team had advised employees to withhold safety research related to children and teens. He stated he would be surprised if the intent behind such legal reviews was to mislead the public.
The trial, led by a coalition of 29 state attorneys general, including California's Rob Bonta, accuses Meta of violating the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) and misrepresenting child safety features. The potential penalties could reach $200 billion.
Mosseri acknowledged that after whistleblower Frances Haugen's leaks in 2021, Meta restricted access to certain internal research to prevent misinterpretation, but he disputed claims that the number of researchers studying youth mental health was reduced.
The outcome of this trial could have significant implications for Meta's operations and reputation, as it faces serious scrutiny over its practices regarding user safety and transparency