Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have criticised Meta’s ‘data-extraction business model’ after the firm agreed to pay up to £13billion to settle a child harm lawsuit, but without apology.
The couple, who returned to the UK yesterday after six years in the US, in a public statement said Meta had paid to sidestep a court verdict that would have forced deeper institutional change.
The Facebook and Instagram owner has ‘more than the means to pay this settlement’ given estimates it will make the equivalent money back in profits within 30 days, they said.
The company has agreed the payout as part of a settlement ending a legal battle in the US, where it will also introduce major new protections for teenage users, to resolve claims that Facebook and Instagram harmed children.
The couple who are online safety campaigners cautioned that introducing basic parental controls shifts the responsibility of staying safe online onto families rather than fixing dangerous product designs.
They said the result shows Meta and social media companies ‘understand they are up against an immovable force of parents, survivors, and advocates who will not back down until we see change in how our young people interact with online spaces’.
The Sussexes concluded by stating: ‘We celebrate with the parent and youth partners, legal and policy experts, and allies everywhere fighting for accountability.
‘As always, we stand with them as they seek justice going forward, ensuring child online safety is built into any online space where our young people spend time.’
The Meta agreement resolves claims filed by 47 US states accusing the tech giant of designing Instagram with features that are addictive to children and teenagers and can harm their mental health.
