Meta CEO Zuckerberg Cleared of Personal Liability Lawsuits

In a significant ruling, U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers determined that Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:META), cannot be held personally liable in a series of lawsuits that claim the company's social media platforms contribute to addiction in children. The decision was announced on Thursday in Oakland, California.

The 25 lawsuits in question accuse Meta of failing to disclose the serious mental health risks associated with the use of Facebook and Instagram among young users. Plaintiffs describe Zuckerberg as the "guiding spirit" behind the alleged cover-up efforts, arguing that he ignored internal warnings regarding these risks and downplayed them in public statements.

However, Judge Gonzalez Rogers found that the allegations against Zuckerberg were not sufficiently specific in relation to any wrongdoing. She noted that merely having control over corporate activities does not, by itself, create personal liability. This ruling does not affect the ongoing claims against Meta as a company.

The legal actions were filed under the laws of 13 states, including Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Maryland, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, and Wisconsin.

Following the judge's decision, Previn Warren, a partner at Motley Rice representing the plaintiffs, stated on Friday that the search for evidence would continue. The aim is to reveal how the technology industry prioritizes profit over the well-being of children, as alleged.

These 25 lawsuits form part of a broader group of claims involving hundreds of lawsuits filed by children, their families, and school districts. These lawsuits seek compensation for issues related to social media addiction from various technology companies, including Meta, Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL), ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, and Snap Inc.

Additionally, many state attorneys general in the U.S. are pursuing similar legal actions linking the use of Meta's platforms to a range of negative effects, including anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, and disruptions to education and daily life.

The case, officially known as In re Social Media Adolescent Addiction/Personal Injury Products Liability Litigation, is being heard in the Northern District of California U.S. District Court under case number 22-md-03047.