Meta: Difference between revisions - Consumer Rights Wiki

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====Local Mess (June 2025)====

A study by Dutch researchers revealed that Meta used a local connection from the user's browser to their apps using WebRTC to communicate from the Facebook tracking pixel (a script website providers integrate into their websites) with Meta apps installed on the device to track the user and circumvent measures to prevent the user's data from leaking. This even works when the user is using the browser's incognito mode. Meta used this technique since at least 2024, Yandex used it as far back as 2017. The day the study was published, the corresponding code disappeared from the Facebook tracking pixel.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Girish |first=Aniketh |date=2025~~-06-03~~ |title=Disclosure: Covert Web-to-App Tracking via Localhost on Android |url=https://localmess.github.io/ ~~|access-date=2025-06-04 |website=Local Mess (Github)~~ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260116094503/https://localmess.github.io/ |archive-date=16 Jan 2026}}</ref>

A study by Dutch researchers revealed that Meta used a local connection from the user's browser to their apps using WebRTC to communicate from the Facebook tracking pixel (a script website providers integrate into their websites) with Meta apps installed on the device to track the user and circumvent measures to prevent the user's data from leaking. This even works when the user is using the browser's incognito mode. Meta used this technique since at least 2024, Yandex used it as far back as 2017. The day the study was published, the corresponding code disappeared from the Facebook tracking pixel.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Girish |first=Aniketh |date=3 Jun 2025 |title=Disclosure: Covert Web-to-App Tracking via Localhost on Android |url=https://localmess.github.io/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260116094503/https://localmess.github.io/ |archive-date=16 Jan 2026 |access-date=4 Jun 2025 |website=Local Mess (Github)}}</ref>

====The Linux Ban====

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====Funds "anti-bigtech" groups====

The [[Digital Childhood Alliance]] has received funding from Meta, according to reporting by multiple sources.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Birnbaum |first=Emily |date=~~July~~ 25, 2025 |title=Meta Clashes With Apple, Google Over Child Age Check Legislation |url=https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/national/2025/07/25/833246.htm |url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[Digital Childhood Alliance]] has received funding from Meta, according to reporting by multiple sources.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Birnbaum |first=Emily |date=25 Jul 2025 |title=Meta Clashes With Apple, Google Over Child Age Check Legislation |url=https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/national/2025/07/25/833246.htm |url-status=live}}</ref>

===Meta Oculus VR===

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The Commission determined that this binary choice violates DMA regulations, which require "gatekeeper" platforms to offer equivalent alternatives for users who decline personal data collection. The DMA mandates that large tech companies must obtain explicit consent before combining users' personal data across services, and cannot make service access conditional upon such consent.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hart |first=Robert |date=1 Jul 2024 |title=Meta’s Ad-Free Subscriptions For Instagram And Facebook Break Europe’s Tech Rules—Possibly Drawing Billions In Fines, EU Says |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/roberthart/2024/07/01/metas-ad-free-subscriptions-for-instagram-and-facebook-break-europes-tech-rules-possibly-drawing-billions-in-fines-eu-says/ |url-status=live |access-date=26 Apr 2025 |website=Forbes |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251017110205/https://www.forbes.com/sites/roberthart/2024/07/01/metas-ad-free-subscriptions-for-instagram-and-facebook-break-europes-tech-rules-possibly-drawing-billions-in-fines-eu-says/ |archive-date=17 Oct 2025}}</ref>

=== Social Media Addiction Bellwether Trials ===

==== Los Angeles Superior Court, JCCP 5255 (2026) ====

Starting in January of 2026, Meta (Facebook and [[Instagram]]) and [[Google]] ([[YouTube]]) faced legal claims of their platforms being intentionally addictive and harmful to children. [[ByteDance]] ([[TikTok]]) and Snap ([[Snapchat]]) were named initially, but settled for undisclosed terms before the trial began. A 19-year-old girl, referred to by the initials "KGM" or Kaley, and two other plaintiffs were selected for bellwether trials—test cases tried as part of an MDL. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Huamani |first=Kaitlyn |last2=Ortutay |first2=Barbara |date=9 Feb 2026 |title=Landmark trial accusing tech giants of harming children with addictive social media begins |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/landmark-trial-accusing-tech-giants-of-harming-children-with-addictive-social-media-begins |url-status=live |access-date=25 Mar 2026 |website=PBS}}</ref> On March 25, 2026, the California jury concluded in KGM's case that Meta and Google were guilty of negligent for their apps—[[Instagram]], Facebook, and [[YouTube]]—being deliberately built to be addictive, which the companies' executives knew this and failed to protect their youngest users.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Allyn |first=Bobby |date=25 Mar 2026 |title=Jury finds Meta and Google negligent in social media harms trial |url=https://www.npr.org/2026/03/25/nx-s1-5746125/meta-youtube-social-media-trial-verdict |url-status=live |access-date=26 Mar 2026 |website=npr}}</ref> Meta was charged to pay $4.2 million in damages, and Google $1.8 million.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kang |first=Cecilia |date=25 Mar 2026 |title=Meta and YouTube Found Negligent in Landmark Social Media Addiction Case |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/25/technology/social-media-trial-verdict.html |url-status=live |access-date=26 Mar 2026 |website=The New York Times}}</ref>

==External links==

@@ Line 33: / Line 33: @@
 ====Local Mess (June 2025)====
-A study by Dutch researchers revealed that Meta used a local connection from the user's browser to their apps using WebRTC to communicate from the Facebook tracking pixel (a script website providers integrate into their websites) with Meta apps installed on the device to track the user and circumvent measures to prevent the user's data from leaking. This even works when the user is using the browser's incognito mode. Meta used this technique since at least 2024, Yandex used it as far back as 2017. The day the study was published, the corresponding code disappeared from the Facebook tracking pixel.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Girish |first=Aniketh |date=2025-06-03 |title=Disclosure: Covert Web-to-App Tracking via Localhost on Android |url=https://localmess.github.io/ |access-date=2025-06-04 |website=Local Mess (Github) |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260116094503/https://localmess.github.io/ |archive-date=16 Jan 2026}}</ref><!-- FIXME: The study has more than one author, not sure how to add more than one using the form provided by the Wiki -->
+A study by Dutch researchers revealed that Meta used a local connection from the user's browser to their apps using WebRTC to communicate from the Facebook tracking pixel (a script website providers integrate into their websites) with Meta apps installed on the device to track the user and circumvent measures to prevent the user's data from leaking. This even works when the user is using the browser's incognito mode. Meta used this technique since at least 2024, Yandex used it as far back as 2017. The day the study was published, the corresponding code disappeared from the Facebook tracking pixel.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Girish |first=Aniketh |date=3 Jun 2025 |title=Disclosure: Covert Web-to-App Tracking via Localhost on Android |url=https://localmess.github.io/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260116094503/https://localmess.github.io/ |archive-date=16 Jan 2026 |access-date=4 Jun 2025 |website=Local Mess (Github)}}</ref><!-- FIXME: The study has more than one author, not sure how to add more than one using the form provided by the Wiki -->
 ====The Linux Ban====
@@ Line 56: / Line 56: @@
 ====Funds "anti-bigtech" groups====
-The [[Digital Childhood Alliance]] has received funding from Meta, according to reporting by multiple sources.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Birnbaum |first=Emily |date=July 25, 2025 |title=Meta Clashes With Apple, Google Over Child Age Check Legislation |url=https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/national/2025/07/25/833246.htm |url-status=live}}</ref>
+The [[Digital Childhood Alliance]] has received funding from Meta, according to reporting by multiple sources.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Birnbaum |first=Emily |date=25 Jul 2025 |title=Meta Clashes With Apple, Google Over Child Age Check Legislation |url=https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/national/2025/07/25/833246.htm |url-status=live}}</ref>
 ===Meta Oculus VR===
@@ Line 138: / Line 138: @@
 The Commission determined that this binary choice violates DMA regulations, which require "gatekeeper" platforms to offer equivalent alternatives for users who decline personal data collection. The DMA mandates that large tech companies must obtain explicit consent before combining users' personal data across services, and cannot make service access conditional upon such consent.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hart |first=Robert |date=1 Jul 2024 |title=Meta’s Ad-Free Subscriptions For Instagram And Facebook Break Europe’s Tech Rules—Possibly Drawing Billions In Fines, EU Says |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/roberthart/2024/07/01/metas-ad-free-subscriptions-for-instagram-and-facebook-break-europes-tech-rules-possibly-drawing-billions-in-fines-eu-says/ |url-status=live |access-date=26 Apr 2025 |website=Forbes |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251017110205/https://www.forbes.com/sites/roberthart/2024/07/01/metas-ad-free-subscriptions-for-instagram-and-facebook-break-europes-tech-rules-possibly-drawing-billions-in-fines-eu-says/ |archive-date=17 Oct 2025}}</ref>
+=== Social Media Addiction Bellwether Trials ===
+==== Los Angeles Superior Court, JCCP 5255 (2026) ====
+Starting in January of 2026, Meta (Facebook and [[Instagram]]) and [[Google]] ([[YouTube]]) faced legal claims of their platforms being intentionally addictive and harmful to children. [[ByteDance]] ([[TikTok]]) and Snap ([[Snapchat]]) were named initially, but settled for undisclosed terms before the trial began. A 19-year-old girl, referred to by the initials "KGM" or Kaley, and two other plaintiffs were selected for bellwether trials—test cases tried as part of an MDL. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Huamani |first=Kaitlyn |last2=Ortutay |first2=Barbara |date=9 Feb 2026 |title=Landmark trial accusing tech giants of harming children with addictive social media begins |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/landmark-trial-accusing-tech-giants-of-harming-children-with-addictive-social-media-begins |url-status=live |access-date=25 Mar 2026 |website=PBS}}</ref> On March 25, 2026, the California jury concluded in KGM's case that Meta and Google were guilty of negligent for their apps—[[Instagram]], Facebook, and [[YouTube]]—being deliberately built to be addictive, which the companies' executives knew this and failed to protect their youngest users.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Allyn |first=Bobby |date=25 Mar 2026 |title=Jury finds Meta and Google negligent in social media harms trial |url=https://www.npr.org/2026/03/25/nx-s1-5746125/meta-youtube-social-media-trial-verdict |url-status=live |access-date=26 Mar 2026 |website=npr}}</ref> Meta was charged to pay $4.2 million in damages, and Google $1.8 million.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kang |first=Cecilia |date=25 Mar 2026 |title=Meta and YouTube Found Negligent in Landmark Social Media Addiction Case |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/25/technology/social-media-trial-verdict.html |url-status=live |access-date=26 Mar 2026 |website=The New York Times}}</ref>
 ==External links==