Former Meta Engineer Testifies Zuckerberg Misled Public on Child Safety Efforts

Whistleblower Testimony Against Meta

Arturo Béjar, a former Meta safety engineer, testified in a federal trial that Meta adopted a "don't ask, don't tell" approach to child safety on its social media platforms. Béjar stated that the company was aware of the harm its products caused children, including exposure to content from sexual predators and violent images through recommendations.

Warnings to Mark Zuckerberg

Béjar testified that he repeatedly raised these issues with Facebook and Instagram executives. He estimated briefing Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg at least 100 times on product issues. An email from Béjar to Zuckerberg in 2021 warned of harmful content and negative impacts on teenage wellbeing, sent after Zuckerberg publicly stated the company did not prioritize profit over safety. Béjar stated he received no response from Zuckerberg regarding these warnings.

Landmark Federal Trial

Béjar was the first witness in a federal trial initiated by 29 US state attorneys general against Meta. The lawsuit alleges that Meta deliberately designed addictive products to attract young people, leading to harm. Additionally, the legal officials claim Meta collected data on children under 13 without parental permission, violating federal and state laws.

Broader Implications and Future Witnesses

The trial, taking place in Oakland, California, is expected to include testimony from other Meta executives, including Zuckerberg and Instagram's CEO Adam Mosseri, as well as experts on children's mental health and addiction. Internal Meta documents and emails have also been submitted as evidence in the case.