MONTPELIER, Vt. (WCAX) – Vermont’s lawsuit against big tech is taking a step forward
Attorney General Charity Clark, D-Vermont, was among state AGs last year that sued Facebook and Instagram parent company Meta, claiming the companies negatively impact the mental health of young Vermonters. Vermont and New Hampshire are among a group of nine other states individually suing Meta in state courts over violation of consumer protection laws.
Meta wanted a judge to dismiss the case, claiming First Amendment rights. But Vermont Superior Court Judge Helen Toor late last month said that the lawsuit could proceed.
Clark says social media uses deceptive algorithms to hook young people so that the companies can sell more ads. “They use all these tricks to get these teens and younger people to stay on the app — infinite scroll, ephemeral content that goes out away — like accounts, video accounts, push notifications. All of these tricks are used to keep people on the app,” she said.
The lawsuit comes after state lawmakers failed to override Gov. Phil Scott’s veto on a data privacy bill that would have required tech companies to make their algorithms less addictive. Lawmakers say the bill will be a top priority when the Legislature convenes in January.