An ex safety engineer testified that Zuckerberg ignored real risks to children, with devastating global market impact. A former Meta safety engineer, Arturo Béjar, testified before a federal court in California, revealing that the company was aware of dangers posed by its products to children. Béjar described how the platform recommended content from sexual predators and violent, graphic images, creating a dangerous environment for young people.

The whistleblower specified that he repeatedly raised the issue with various Facebook and Instagram executives, but responses were insufficient to resolve the situation. According to the data provided, Béjar spoke at least 100 times with CEO Mark Zuckerberg, estimating that each time he sent an email warning. An email sent by Béjar in 2021 clearly showed the engineer in constant alarm about harmful content reports and the damage to teenagers mental health.

Béjar cited a moment when the CEO publicly declared that profit was the priority, completely ignoring the safety of minors. Béjar testified that he felt Zuckerberg had created a false and deceptive image of their attention toward young people, saying: "In my experience, when Mark makes something a priority, mountains move." The response from Zuckerberg was negative, with Béjar having received no reply. The case was advanced by 29 state attorneys general who accuse Meta of deliberately designing products that retain children and harm them.

Legal authorities also support the claim that the company collects data on children under 13 without parental consent, violating federal and state laws. During opening statements, Megan O'Neill, California's assistant general counsel, emphasized that children's health and well-being are a shared responsibility, but criticized Meta for not contributing to this task. The case is proceeding in Oakland, California, and is expected to last at least six weeks.

Meta denies all accusations presented in the process, with Paul Schmidt, a lawyer for the company, asserting that there was no dispute over how people can face social media challenges. The trial is ongoing and is expected to continue for more weeks, with additional witnesses including Adam Mosseri, CEO of Instagram, and other experts on children's mental health.