A coalition of states sued Meta in 2023. [Courtesy]
Facebook-parent Meta will defend itself in a landmark social media trial that begins Tuesday in California, where attorneys have sparred over witnesses and financial penalties.
A coalition of states sued Meta in 2023, and the four states now going to trial were selected to represent them.
Lawyers for the states will argue Meta deliberately made Facebook and Instagram addictive for children, in violation of state and federal laws.
In recent days Meta, which has more than three billion users around the world, tried to block ex-Meta employee and expert witness, Arturo Bejar, from testifying.
Federal Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers dismissed the company's request, handing the states an early victory. In her ruling, she described it as a "Hail Mary" effort to "eliminate a strong witness" for the plaintiffs.
Bejar has previously testified against the company, including in a New Mexico trial which Meta lost.
Lawyers for California, Colorado, Kentucky and New Jersey are expected to question Bejar about Meta's practices around safety and growth, and whether the company publicly misrepresented what it knew, according to a court document.