Meta Board Settles $8 Billion Facebook Privacy Lawsuit
Meta Platforms together with CEO Mark Zuckerberg and top executives settled a lawsuit from shareholders who claimed the company failed to protect user privacy on Facebook. The Delaware trial which sought $8 billion in damages against Facebook for its multiple violations of the 2012 FTC data privacy pact reached a settlement that ended the case. The trial stopped after its second day without revealing any information about the settlement terms.
The shareholders attempted to make Zuckerberg and Meta board member Marc Andreessen and former COO Sheryl Sandberg pay for both the FTC fines and legal expenses including the $5 billion penalty from 2019. The shareholders maintained Meta's leadership ignored user data misuse incidents including the Cambridge Analytica scandal.
The court scheduled Zuckerberg and Sandberg to appear as witnesses during the following week. The witness list included former directors Peter Thiel and Reed Hastings. The plaintiffs argued Facebook functioned as a “data harvesting operation” which broke federal orders. Meta has spent significant funds on privacy initiatives yet critics argue the settlement fails to establish sufficient accountability. The company declined comment.
Dominic Maley is an American journalist recognized for his sharp and insightful reporting on social and political issues. His work is known for its depth, integrity, and the ability to highlight critical societal concerns.