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Zuckerberg lied about concern for child safety, Meta whistleblower testifies at landmark trial
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A former Meta safety engineer testified that the company adopted a "don't ask, don't tell" approach to child safety, revealing damning evidence in a landmark federal trial. Arturo BĂ©jar, who worked at Meta for eight years, told the jury that executives ignored repeated warnings about harmful content and recommendations from sexual predators. The trial, filed by 29 state attorneys general, accuses Meta of designing addictive products that harm young users. The lawsuit also alleges the company collected data on children under 13 without parental consent.
The case stems from years of growing concern over social media's impact on youth mental health. In opening statements, California's deputy attorney general Megan O'Neill said, "I heard from many of you at jury selection that the health and wellbeing of kids is a shared responsibility. Meta didn't do its share." The trial represents one of the largest legal challenges against a tech giant over child safety.
BĂ©jar estimated he briefed CEO Mark Zuckerberg at least 100 times, often sending reports directly. In a 2021 email, he warned of constant reports of harmful content and damage to teenage wellbeing on Facebook and Instagram. When asked if Zuckerberg ever responded, BĂ©jar said, "No. I didn't hear back from him." He testified that Zuckerberg's public statements about safety created a "false and misleading impression" of the company's commitment.
BĂ©jar described how design features like infinite scroll drive advertising revenue. "On scroll, the more views you have, the more ads you sell, the more revenue you make," he said. He argued that Meta prioritized profits over child safety despite internal knowledge of the harm. This contrasts with Meta's claim that it has developed tools to address these issues.
If Meta is found liable, damages could reach $200bn, equivalent to its 2025 annual revenue. Lawmakers also seek court-ordered changes to product design, which could reshape the company's business model. The outcome could set a precedent for social media regulation across the entire industry.
Meta denies all allegations. Attorney Paul Schmidt said in his opening that there is "no dispute" people can struggle with social media, but Meta has "come up with tools to try and address that." The company notes it disables accounts of underage users, having removed over 1 million such accounts. However, BĂ©jar's testimony undermines these defenses by showing internal silence.
The trial in Oakland is expected to last at least six weeks, with witnesses including Zuckerberg, Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri, and mental health experts. Reams of internal documents and emails will be presented as evidence. The verdict could influence ongoing legislative efforts to regulate child safety online.
This whistleblower case echoes previous revelations by Frances Haugen, highlighting systemic issues in social media. The trial represents a turning point in holding tech executives personally accountable for platform harms. As public pressure grows, similar lawsuits may emerge against other platforms, signaling a new era of accountability.
