Former Meta Director: Zuckerberg Knew About Risks to Children but Didn't Address Them
Arturo Bejar testified at trial that company culture prioritized profit over protecting young Facebook and Instagram users.
Arturo Bejar testified at trial that company culture prioritized profit over protecting young Facebook and Instagram users.
Arturo Bejar, a former engineering director at Meta Platforms and a vocal critic of the company, testified on Wednesday in federal court in Oakland, California. His testimony opened a historic trial in which a coalition of U.S. states accuses Meta of endangering children's safety on Facebook and Instagram.
Bejar, who worked at Meta from 2009 to 2015 and as an independent contractor from 2019 to 2021, leveled serious accusations against CEO Mark Zuckerberg. According to him, Zuckerberg was closely involved in decision-making, and a top-down corporate culture ensured that product design changes only happened if he personally ordered them.
"If Mark makes something a priority, mountains move within a month," Bejar said.
That statement suggests that child safety was never at the top of Zuckerberg's priority list, a key argument for the plaintiffs in this case. Bejar further testified that he repeatedly raised concerns with executives, including Zuckerberg himself, but little was done. According to his claims, Facebook and Instagram exposed children to predators and graphic content.
California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey accuse Meta of designing Facebook and Instagram to attract young users, fostering anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts. Additionally, these four states, along with 25 others, accuse the company of violating federal law by improperly collecting and using personal data from children under 13. In total, 29 U.S. states accuse Meta of deliberately designing addictive products that harm young users.
Meta denies all allegations and claims that Bejar's opinions fall outside his area of responsibility. The company insists that its platform design complies with the law and protects young users.
The trial began on Tuesday, with Bejar as the first witness called by the prosecution. The process is expected to last six weeks, and Mark Zuckerberg himself is expected to appear among the witnesses, which could be a pivotal moment in the proceedings.
Photo of Mark Zuckerberg taken by Brendan Smialowski from AFP.
