Tech giant Meta Platforms agreed to pay U.S. states as much as $16.7 billion and to impose sweeping new limits on how teenagers use Facebook and Instagram, according to a court filing on Wednesday that ends a landmark trial in California.
The proposed settlement, filed in federal court, would resolve claims by a coalition of U.S. states that Meta deliberately engineered its platforms to hook young users, misled the public about the risks and unlawfully collected data from children under 13.
"Meta has agreed to make massive transformations that will reduce the risk of harm from its platforms – and will do it within months," California Attorney General Rob Bonta said in a statement.
He called the outcome "real change, real transparency, and real enforceable protections for children."
The filing states that the agreement does not amount to an admission of liability or wrongdoing by Meta, which has consistently denied the allegations. It requires court approval to take effect.
