Meta Seeks Immunity From Child-Harm Suits as $6 Million Jury Loss Fuels KOSA Lobbying
Updated
Updated · Fox Business · Jun 19
Meta Seeks Immunity From Child-Harm Suits as $6 Million Jury Loss Fuels KOSA Lobbying
3 articles · Updated · Fox Business · Jun 19
Summary
$6 million in damages against Meta and Google in a Los Angeles bellwether case came as Meta lobbied Congress for language shielding platforms from child-harm lawsuits tied to Facebook and Instagram.
The proposed KOSA language would make online companies immune under state law for claims related to minors' online safety and privacy, and would also preempt some state children's safety laws.
Meta said the provision would create uniform national standards rather than blanket immunity, but trial lawyers said it would wipe out pending cases from parents, school districts and other plaintiffs.
Thousands of youth-safety claims are already consolidated against Meta in California, while states and school districts have filed separate suits over allegedly addictive platform features.
Meta reportedly offered the language in exchange for dropping opposition to KOSA, which passed the Senate in 2024, failed in the House, and is now back in bipartisan Senate talks with the White House.
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Landmark Verdicts Against Meta: The Turning Point in Child Safety and Tech Accountability
Overview
Meta has recently faced a series of landmark legal defeats, including a major jury verdict in New Mexico that found its platforms responsible for harming children. These rulings mark a breaking point between social media companies and the public, as extensive evidence and compelling testimony from teachers, investigators, and whistle-blowers revealed serious safety concerns on Meta’s platforms. The overwhelming evidence challenged the long-standing legal protections of tech giants, making the verdict unsurprising to many. This turning point highlights growing public and legal scrutiny over the impact of social media on young users and signals a shift in accountability for the industry.