Zuckerberg allegedly vetoed plans to ban filters that simulate plastic surgery on Meta-owned platforms, according to the unredacted lawsuit filed by Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell (D),
He also allegedly ignored requests from top executives to boost investments in teens’ well-being.
Experts have raised concerns about the ways certain filters — visual effects that can digitally alter a user’s appearance — can harm teen mental health.
Massachusetts is one of dozens of states to sue Meta last month, alleging the company knowingly designed and deployed features that harmed young users’ mental health.
The unredacted version of the complaint offers insight into the role Zuckerberg allegedly played in decisions about features for teens on the platform.
Facebook and Instagram have been under immense scrutiny since whistleblower Frances Haugen came forward two years ago with internal company documents highlighting those concerns.
A Meta spokesperson pushed back on the allegations in the complaint.
“While filters exist across every major social platform and smartphone camera, Meta bans those that directly promote cosmetic surgery, changes in skin color or extreme weight loss. We clearly note when a filter is being used and we work to proactively review effects against these rules before they go live,” a Meta spokesperson said in a statement.
The spokesperson also said the complaint is “filled with selective quotes from hand-picked documents that do not provide the full context of how the company operates or what decisions were made.”
Read more in a full report at The Hill.com.
