A former Meta safety researcher testified Wednesday in a California federal court that the company, under CEO Mark Zuckerberg, operated with a "don't ask, don't tell" policy regarding child safety issues, prioritizing profits over user well-being. Arturo Béjar, who worked as a safety researcher at Meta between 2009 and 2015 and returned as a consultant from 2019 to 2021, told jurors that Zuckerberg was aware of the harmful effects of Facebook and Instagram but did not take sufficient action.
"You just cannot trust Mark Zuckerberg with kids," Béjar stated from the witness stand. He is the first witness called by a coalition of 29 state attorneys general who are suing Meta. The states allege that the company's addictive app designs have contributed to a teen mental health crisis, leading to increased anxiety, depression, and suicides, while also illegally collecting data from children without parental consent.
The attorneys general are seeking to compel Meta to alter key features of its applications and are pursuing penalties that could range from $200 billion to $1.4 trillion, according to estimates presented by both sides.
Béjar, who led a safety-focused team at Meta, accused Zuckerberg of making public statements that created a "false and misleading impression of Facebook’s commitment to young people." Béjar estimated he discussed safety concerns with Zuckerberg at least 100 times during his tenure. He further testified that Meta possessed the technical capability to identify underage users circumventing safety measures but maintained a policy that ignored these issues to protect revenue, as younger users represent future growth.
In a separate case, Béjar had previously testified about his own daughter's negative experiences on Instagram. During the current trial, under cross-examination by Meta's legal team, Béjar acknowledged being unprepared for the extent of risks his own teenage daughter encountered after joining the platform.
The trial is expected to last approximately six weeks. Both Mark Zuckerberg and Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri are anticipated to testify. Meta has consistently denied the allegations, with the company's lawyer, Paul Schmidt, arguing in opening statements that Zuckerberg and his leadership have implemented numerous measures to safeguard young users, including parental oversight tools and usage time limits.