American tech executive, head of Instagram
A coalition of 29 state attorneys general has opened a federal trial in Oakland against Meta, arguing the company designed Facebook and Instagram features that addict children and illegally collected data on under‑13s. Four states — California, Colorado, Kentucky and New Jersey — are leading the case, which seeks operational changes and financial penalties that plaintiffs have estimated could total as much as $1.4 trillion.
A federal trial in Oakland has opened in which California and 28 other states have accused Meta of designing Facebook and Instagram to hook children, harvesting their data and hiding internal research. The states are seeking damages that could reach roughly $200 billion and court-ordered product redesigns to protect under-13s.
The settlement with U.S. states requires Meta to implement default teen-safety measures, hard two-hour daily limits for under-18 users, and overnight shutdowns. The company will strengthen age checks and hide like counts for minors, with several protections turning on by default. Critics warn real safety gains depend on how the rules are enforced and what remains optional.
Meta has agreed to an $18 billion settlement with 48 states to strengthen age-verification and safety tools on Instagram and Facebook. The deal does not admit liability and carves out ongoing oversight, with audits and time-bound improvements. Other platforms like YouTube and TikTok are urged to follow suit.
Polish developer Pawel Szydlowski has launched Zuckoff, an app that detects Bluetooth signatures from nearby smart glasses and estimates distance. It has drawn 5,000 users since its Apple App Store debut, as Meta faces backlash over its “perv glasses.” Regulators are contacting the creator while privacy advocates warn of surveillance risks.
Australia has proposed a digital duty of care that will force platforms to let users over 16 choose between algorithmic, personalised feeds or a non‑algorithmic feed showing only followed accounts. The draft would fine noncompliant companies up to A$109.2m and require protections for under‑18s; Washington has warned it will raise concerns with trading partners.
Meta is rolling out an audio-focused variant of its Ray-Ban smart glasses, aiming to calm privacy concerns while preserving AI features. The move follows backlash to camera-equipped models and signals a broader shift toward user consent and non-visual interfaces.
A collage of personal essays from UK writers shows growing anxiety about AI’s impact on work, parenting and daily routines. Writers describe navigating automation, education choices and the future with both worry and pragmatism.
Norway has proposed a temporary ban on camera-enabled smart glasses in public spaces to protect privacy, with a bill expected to reach parliament soon. The policy would apply to places like parks, gyms and schools, while allowing private use. An expert group will assess how to regulate and where exceptions might exist.
Instagram is testing long-form video through Features, allowing up to 90 minutes, and is exploring monetization paths as it competes with YouTube. The move follows a broader overhaul of video formats and signals a shift to keep creators on Instagram as revenue questions loom.