Brazil files $500 million lawsuit against Meta and TikTok for failing to proactively protect minors – Firstpost

Brazil has taken legal action against Meta, TikTok and Kwai, accusing the platforms of not doing enough to protect minors. The Collective Defense Institute, a consumer rights group, filed two lawsuits seeking three billion reais (about $525 million).

The group argues that companies have failed to proactively protect young users or impose effective limits on their use of the platform.

Social media giants are under fire again
The cases highlight concerns about the negative impact social media can have on young people’s mental health. The legal action calls on Meta, TikTok and Kwai to issue clear warnings about the risks of platform addiction. Companies are also expected to outline more robust data protection practices to ensure better security for minors.

The group behind the lawsuit stressed the need for urgent changes to improve how data from users under the age of 18 is handled and how young people aged 13 and over are tracked on these platforms. They believe that such measures are already being followed in other developed countries.

This isn’t the first time Meta and TikTok have faced legal challenges for failing to protect minors. In late 2023, the state of New Mexico sued Meta, accusing Facebook and Instagram of exposing minors to inappropriate content.

Reports soon surfaced that an internal memo from Meta in 2021 revealed that more than 100,000 young users were being harassed every day. Despite this, Meta administrators reportedly resisted calls for algorithm changes. Earlier this month, several US attorneys general also filed lawsuits against TikTok, alleging that the platform misled the public about its safety for young users.

Press for tighter security measures
In response to growing pressure, Meta launched special teen accounts on Instagram, aiming to provide stricter privacy settings for users under 16. These accounts also require parental approval for any changes. However, these features are not yet available in Brazil, but Meta has promised that they will arrive soon.

Meta states that he has been working to improve the safety of young people for more than a decade. The company emphasized that it has developed more than 50 tools, features and resources to help teens and their parents navigate the platform safely.

A wider war in Brazil
This case isn’t Brazil’s only encounter with major tech platforms. Recently, the country has clashed with Elon Musk’s X (formerly Twitter) over profiles accused of spreading election-related misinformation. After resisting the government’s demands, X eventually paid a fine of 28 million reais (about $4.9 million).

Brazil’s latest legal move highlights growing scrutiny around the world over social media platforms’ treatment of young users. As regulators tighten the reins, companies like Meta and TikTok will face increasing pressure to introduce safer policies for minors.