Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta had ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy on child safety, ex-employee testifies in historic trial

Arturo Béjar, a former Meta safety researcher who has become one of its biggest critics, told jurors in California federal court that Zuckerberg did little to address the harmful effects of Facebook and Instagram despite having near-unchecked power as the company’s CEO.

A coalition of US states has accused Meta of designing Instagram and Facebook to hook young users.

Former Meta engineer claims ‘safety was always an afterthought’ at the tech giant

Child safety was an afterthought, ex-Meta engineer tells trial  The Times

Arturo Bejar, a vocal Meta critic, made the allegation in a landmark trial over claims brought by a coalition of states that could reshape Facebook and Instagram.

Arturo Bejar, a prominent critic of the company, made the statement during his second day of testimony

Ex-Meta executive says Zuckerberg put growth before child safety  Reuters

Arturo Béjar, a former Meta safety engineer, testified that executives were aware of harm to children but did little to act on it

A coalition of 29 states have begun their federal trial against Mark Zuckerberg's Meta, accusing the company behind Instagram and Facebook of knowingly building addictive products that harmed young users.

Raul Torrez, New Mexico’s attorney general, is drafting two bills as a separate 29-state trial over child safety opens in Oakland tomorrow.