Meta Faces Global Legal Challenges Following $18 Billion US Settlement

Meta has agreed to an $18 billion settlement with 29 US states over allegations that it designed addictive products targeting young users. While the agreement includes changes to platform features in the US, the social media giant continues to face pending legal actions and regulatory scrutiny in multiple international jurisdictions, including Kenya, the Netherlands, and the European Union.

Under the terms of the US settlement, Meta agreed to alter certain platform features for minors on Facebook and Instagram, such as establishing time limits, blocking nighttime usage, and removing personalized feeds. While US regulators sought up to $200 billion—and Meta previously noted in court filings that potential liabilities could reach $1.4 trillion—the settlement resolved the case without requiring Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg to testify. Following the announcement, Meta's share price rose. Former Facebook employee and whistleblower Arturo Béjar criticized the usage limits, comparing them to permitting unrestricted smoking within a two-hour daily limit without making the product safer.

Pending International Lawsuits and Allegations

Outside the US, Meta faces several ongoing legal claims regarding its algorithmic systems and moderation practices. In Kenya, a lawsuit filed in 2022 by Abrham Meareg is set to be heard after the High Court ruled the case could proceed following years of legal maneuvering by Meta. Meareg alleges that Facebook's algorithm actively promoted posts containing his father's photo and address during Ethiopia's civil war in 2021, calling for his murder. His father, a chemistry professor in Bahir Dar, was subsequently shot and killed outside his home. Meareg and non-profit organization Foxglove claim Meta failed to act despite repeated requests to remove the content.

In the Netherlands, non-profit organization Repro Uncensored has an ongoing lawsuit against Meta alleging discrimination against queer accounts, with plans for additional legal actions across Europe. Executive Director Martha Dimitratou stated that future accountability efforts must address algorithms, discriminatory moderation, and automated decision-making. Additionally, the European Commission launched an investigation into Meta in 2024, issuing a charge sheet alleging that features such as infinite scroll contribute to compulsive use and unhealthy habits.