Home / Crime and Justice / Court Rejects Meta's Plea on Child Safety Files
Court Rejects Meta's Plea on Child Safety Files
17 Jul
Summary
- Meta lost a court bid to block release of internal child safety documents.
- The documents relate to a lawsuit alleging Meta deceived consumers about child safety.
- A judge found the documents could be used to further or conceal a crime or fraud.
Meta Platforms' attempt to prevent the release of internal documents to the District of Columbia attorney general was unsuccessful. A three-judge panel of the D.C. Court of Appeals rejected Meta's petition to overturn a lower court's order. This ruling means Meta must provide documents pertinent to a lawsuit alleging deceptive practices regarding children's safety on Facebook and Instagram.
The attorney general is using these documents as evidence in a case claiming Meta violated consumer protection laws. The lawsuit alleges the company created addictive products for children and misled the public about their safety. Meta has denied wrongdoing and is involved in similar legal battles nationwide.
The four documents in question are communications among Meta researchers about 'youth-user wellbeing.' A D.C. Superior Court judge determined they are not shielded by attorney-client privilege, citing an exception for communications used to further or conceal criminal or fraudulent activity.
Meta argued the documents contained legal advice on mitigating risk, but the appeals court found no clear error in the lower court's ruling. The court noted that Meta failed to demonstrate the lower court erred in finding probable cause that attorneys were used to further an alleged fraud.
