Meta Failed To Disable Underage User’s Instagram Accounts, Lawsuit Alleges
A legal complaint has been filed against Meta, the parent company of Instagram, by the attorneys general of 33 states, alleging that the company knowingly allowed underage users to keep their accounts active. The complaint, which was unsealed last month, claims that Meta not only failed to delete the accounts of users under the age of 13 but also continued to collect their personal information without parental consent, a violation of federal children’s privacy laws.
According to The New York Times, Meta has received a staggering 1.1 million reports of underage users on Instagram since 2019. However, the company has only disabled a small fraction of these accounts, raising concerns about its handling of the issue. The complaint asserts that Meta’s knowledge of underage users is well-documented internally and that the company actively sought out and retained these younger users.
The attorneys general allege that rather than implementing strong safeguards to prevent underage users from accessing the platform, Meta relied on approaches that made it easy for them to lie about their age. The complaint cites employee chats, company presentations, and internal emails as evidence that Meta actively pursued underage users.
Moreover, the complaint claims that Meta has misled the public about the effectiveness of its age-checking procedures and failed to take appropriate action when it became aware of underage users. The attorneys general accuse the company of prioritizing its business interests over protecting children’s privacy and safety.
In response to the complaint, Meta issued a statement dismissing the allegations as a mischaracterization of their efforts. The company argued that the burden of age verification should be placed on the App Store and advocated for federal legislation that would require parental approval for each app downloaded by a child.
Meta now faces legal action from a coalition of states, with California and Colorado leading the charge. The attorneys general are seeking accountability from Meta for the alleged violation of federal laws and the endangerment of young users on its platform.
As the lawsuit unfolds, the scope and impact of Meta’s alleged misconduct will become clearer. The outcome of this case may have significant implications not only for Meta but also for the wider tech industry, potentially shaping future regulations on protecting underage users and their privacy.
While Meta maintains that the complaint misrepresents their actions, the allegations raise important questions about the responsibility of social media companies when it comes to protecting vulnerable users. The public will be watching closely as this lawsuit progresses and awaits potential changes to safeguard online spaces for children across platforms.
