Brian E. McMath’s Post

Meta faces big suit in US filed by over 40 States. "Kids and teenagers are suffering from record levels of poor mental health and social media companies like Meta are to blame," said New York Attorney General Letitia James in a statement announcing the suit. It's alleged that Meta designed products (Instagram and Facebook) that are "deliberately addictive and fuel mental health crisis". The lawsuits are seeking to have Meta's design "dopamine manipulating" features considered unlawful under State Consumer Protection laws. As such Sec 230 of Communication Decency Act 1996 protects social media cos from being held legally responsible for contents generated by the users. What will be the impact on PI/E&O policy is not very much clear...will any standard exclusion come into play? If the allegations in lawsuit are successful then in D&O policy will "Anti Trust /Unfair Trade Practice exclusion" deny Meta any coverage for its Directors and Officers even in "Legal representation to investigation and examination"? "Crisis communication cover" seems to be the only logical avenue to some policy benefit but currently there is no such "material effect on Meta's stock price" that can trigger "Crisis services" Time will only unfold the outcome.

The New York Times reported that Meta ignored the prevalence of underage users on Instagram — which may violate federal law. Users under age 13 aren’t allowed to use the platform, but a recently unsealed complaint reveals that Meta was aware of the millions of underage Instagram users — and it also “routinely continued to collect” children’s personal information, like their locations and email addresses, without parental permission. This behavior violates a 1998 federal law called the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act. That law requires that online services with content aimed at children obtain verifiable permission from a parent before collecting personal details from users under 13. Fines for violating this law can exceed $50,000 per violation, and Meta could face hundreds of millions of dollars, or more, in civil penalties should the states prove the allegations. “Within the company, Meta’s actual knowledge that millions of Instagram users are under the age of 13 is an open secret that is routinely documented, rigorously analyzed and confirmed,” the complaint stated, “and zealously protected from disclosure to the public.” Meta is suing the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), challenging the FTC’s authority to impose new privacy obligations on the social media firm. Meta's lawsuit was criticized by Congressman Frank Pallone Jr, the ranking Democrat on the House Commerce Committee. "This lawsuit is embarrassing," Pallone said in a statement. "It speaks volumes that Meta would rather launch a frivolous lawsuit against the agency tasked by Congress with protecting American consumers, especially our children, than do the serious work needed to reform their platforms." Our take: Even though kids under age 13 aren't allowed to use Meta's platforms, the data is clear: underage children use these social networks, and there aren't enough protections in place to prevent kids from entering these digital spaces — potentially exposing them to data collection, advertising, and the attention of adult users. This underscores why we advocate for parental supervision: we have to take back control of our children’s attention and safety, and that involves understanding what kids see and do online so parents can pull them out of potential pitfalls. Delay giving your kids access to social media, and when you do, take an active role in monitoring their activity. Their safety depends on it. #onlinesafety #digitalparenting

Good move by State Attorneys General. This may seem like a peripheral issue as related to data privacy, but the goal of keeping children online is to create and promote habits that allow for the collection of behavioral and private data. From the article: "Meta designed its Facebook and Instagram products to keep young users on them for longer and repeatedly coming back, the attorneys general allege. According to the federal complaint, Meta did this via the design of its algorithms, copious alerts, notifications and so-called infinite scroll through platform feeds." #meta #privatedata #dataprivacy #dataprotection #dataprivacylaw #pii #coppa #onlineprotection #behavioraldata #dataabuse ##privacylaw #privacyprotection #juststopalready #seriously

Ethics should be law for all of the technology industries.

Recent allegations have emerged against Meta, accusing the company of knowingly allowing and even pursuing children under the age of 13 to use its platforms, particularly Instagram. This claim, highlighted in an unsealed complaint reported by The New York Times, suggests that Meta had not only failed to disable accounts of underage users but also continued to collect their data. These allegations raise serious questions about Meta's compliance with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998 and its overall commitment to safeguarding young users. I'm curious to hear your thoughts on this situation. How do you perceive Meta's responsibility in this context, and what impact do you think such practices, if proven true, could have on the digital landscape for younger users? #dataprivacy #privacy #childrensprivacy #legalaction #socialmedia #lawsuit #legislation #personaldata #personaldataprotection #innovation #technology

🌐 Kindr's Response to Recent Allegations Against Meta: A Call for Ethical Tech Solutions In light of recent revelations about Meta's alleged mishandling of underage users on Instagram, we at Kindr emphasize the need for ethical and transparent tech practices that prioritize user safety and adhere to privacy regulations. At Kindr, we believe in fostering online communities with a strong sense of responsibility. We are committed to creating a space where innovation thrives while ensuring the protection and privacy of all users, especially the younger and vulnerable populations. We understand the challenges of age verification online, but we firmly believe in the importance of prioritizing the safety and well-being of our users. Kindr is dedicated to implementing robust measures to safeguard the interests of our diverse community. Our mission extends beyond innovation; it encompasses creating a platform that serves as a force for positive change in the world. By addressing challenges with transparency, accountability, and a commitment to ethical practices, we aim to build a kinder, safer digital space for everyone. Let's collectively work towards a future where technology not only drives progress but does so with an unwavering commitment to ethical standards. Let's collectively innovate responsibly for a kinder and more secure digital landscape. #KindrResponsibility #EthicalTech #InnovationWithIntegrity #innovation #socialentrepreneurship #socialmedia

Unsealed US court documents allege #Meta “routinely” collected #personaldata on children under 13 via Instagram, according to CNN and The New York Times. 🔹 The court filings from 33 State Attorneys General claim #Meta received 1.1 million reports of users under 13 since 2019, but “disabled only a fraction” of the accounts and collected children’s #personaldata without parental #consent, in violation of several state #consumerprotection statutes and the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (#COPPA). 🔹 Internal #Meta information, including employee emails, chats and presentations are cited in the complaint as evidence that #Meta “coveted and pursued” under-13 users and “continually failed” to implement effective #ageverification systems. 🔹 According to CNN: “The unsealed complaint also alleges that Meta knew that its algorithm could steer children toward harmful content, thereby harming their well-being.” 🔹 #Meta released a statement on Saturday stating it has worked for a decade to make experiences safe and age-appropriate, and the court filing “mischaracterizes our work using selective quotes and cherry-picked documents,” according to The New York Times. 🔹 #Meta argues that #ageverification is complex for #onlineservices, calling for federal legislation to require app stores to obtain parental approval when apps are downloaded, rather than requiring age-verification by each app. With the #onlinesafetyact in the UK and #digitalservicesact in the EU, the US lawsuits are part of international efforts to protect children’s #onlinesafety in the age of #socialmedia. I'd be interested to know the views of #privacypros on #Meta's suggestion that app stores should be responsible for #ageverification.... #privacy #compliance #onlineharms

Judge: FTC can move forward with plans to impose tough new privacy restrictions on Meta. Here's what you need to know: 1. A federal judge has permitted the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to advance its new proposal to further tighten restrictions on Meta and ban it from monetizing youth data, citing Meta's failure to fully comply with a 2020 privacy order. 2. The FTC's proposed changes also aim to limit Meta's use of facial recognition technology, among other aspects, and comes in response to Meta's inadequate compliance to past orders, including allegations of improper access to user data and misinformation about parental controls on Messenger Kids app. 3. Despite Meta arguing these new rules lack merit and labelling them as a "political stunt", child safety advocates have welcomed the court's decision. Meanwhile, the timeline for when the FTC intends to implement these new rules is still unclear. Learn more by visiting The Record from Recorded Future News: https://lnkd.in/dEsdywNZ

Do you know what social media sites your children visit? The online playground is dangerous! Keeping track of your children online is a constant challenge of #digitalparenting - perhaps more so in blended families. 👉 Visit our website to learn how we can help. #onlinesafetymatters #sextortion #predators #pornharms #endexploitation #everaccountable

42 U.S. states, including California, Colorado, New York, and Illinois, have jointly sued Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, alleging that the company deliberately designed its platforms to attract children, causing harm to their mental health. The lawsuit claims that Meta violated state and federal laws by prioritizing engagement of young users. It accuses Meta of using addictive features while downplaying the risks to children and disregarding research on the harm caused to young users. The lawsuit highlights the violation of the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) and state consumer protection laws. The legal action aims to address concerns about social media's impact on young users and might lead to changes in the industry. #MetaLawsuit #ChildSafety #SocialMediaImpact 😡📱 https://buff.ly/3tKZcGS