OMM Newsroom
A class action has been filed in an Australian court against Meta’s Facebook and Instagram platforms. The plaintiffs allege that the platforms exposed children to harmful content and used algorithms to increase their dependence on social media.
The case was filed this month in the Federal Court, Australia’s second-highest court, by law firm MinterEllison, AnewZ reports. It could be the first case in the country to accuse social media platforms of harming users, particularly children and teenagers.
The class action was brought on behalf of eight people who allege that Meta harmed them when they were under 18. The plaintiffs are seeking compensation.
Meta did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Court bars disclosure of plaintiffs’ identities
On Monday, the court issued a suppression order prohibiting the publication of the plaintiffs’ identities and any information that could reveal the contents of the claim.
In August, Meta agreed to pay $18 billion to settle allegations brought by nearly all U.S. states that it designed its platforms to make children dependent on social media.
Separately, a judge in the U.S. state of New Mexico ordered the technology giant to pay $25 billion in a case related to the Cambridge Analytica scandal, after a jury found that the company had misled consumers.
Meta has asked the judge to cap the penalty at $3.45 billion, arguing that a fine of several billion dollars could violate its constitutional rights. The company later said it planned to appeal the ruling.
The new case in Australia comes amid growing tensions between the country and major technology companies. Australia has introduced the world’s first social media ban for children under 16. It has also proposed new rules that could allow users to turn off algorithmically selected content in their feeds.
