Meta Faces Australian Class Action Over Alleged Harm to Young Users
Meta faces an Australian class action alleging that Facebook and Instagram harmed young users through addictive features and harmful content. Reuters reported on October 22 that law firm MinterEllison had filed the Federal Court proceeding that month on behalf of eight plaintiffs seeking compensation for harm allegedly suffered before they turned 18. These are allegations in a newly reported case, not findings of liability. According to Reuters, a court order made on Monday restricted identification of the applicants and publication of the statement of claim. The publicly available report therefore does not provide a basis for describing every pleaded allegation or the private circumstances of the people involved. Meta did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for comment on the lawsuit. The case arrives against the background of Australia’s social-media minimum-age rules, but those rules and this damages claim address different questions. A restriction on holding an account do...