Meta agrees $18bn COPPA settlement with 29 states over child data

META faced a lawsuit from 29 American states related to child privacy under COPPA, resulting in an $18 billion settlement over ten years. The case alleged illegal data harvesting from children under thirteen. To avoid potential catastrophic penalties, Meta opted for the settlement, avoiding trial and CEO Mark Zuckerberg's testimony while admitting no wrongdoing. Key commitments include implementing user restrictions for adolescents, such as a two-hour daily usage limit and muted notifications during school hours. The settlement could influence broader industry practices, potentially affecting platforms like TikTok and Snapchat.