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Social media on trial as $200bn case against Facebook and Instagram begins

The Guardian UK · 18 August 2026 at 19:27

Social media on trial as $200bn case against Facebook and Instagram begins

Twenty-nine US states are seeking huge damages, claiming Meta’s platforms were addictive by design In 1994, more than 40 US states came together to sue one of the most powerful industries on Earth: big tobacco.

The suits brought together diverse claims centred on tobacco companies’ misleading advertising and contribution to a mounting public health crisis.

They ended in a negotiated settlement with the US government, in which the companies agreed to pay more than any industry ever, and the states agreed to drop a large portion of their claims.

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5News aggregated this summary from the outlet’s public feed. The full article, with all the context, is on www.theguardian.com — the content belongs to The Guardian UK.

Social media on trial as $200bn case against Facebook and Instagram begins

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