Wisconsin Targets Meta Under Trade Practices Act

COUNT LIV: DECEPTIVE ACTS OR PRACTICES BY META IN VIOLATION OF WISCONSIN’S DECEPTIVE TRADE PRACTICES ACT, WIS. STAT. § 100.18(1)

1169. Wisconsin realleges and incorporates herein by reference each of the allegations contained in the preceding paragraphs 1 through 850 as though fully alleged in this cause of action.

1170. In numerous instances, with the intent to sell, distribute, or increase the consumption of its products and/or services, Meta directly or indirectly made, published, or placed before the public, representations that were untrue, deceptive, or misleading, including but not limited to the following representations by Meta:

a. that Meta’s Social Media Platforms are not psychologically or physically harmful for young users and are not designed to induce young users’ compulsive and extended use, when they are in fact so designed;

b. that Meta’s Social Media Platforms are less addictive and/or less likely to result in psychological and physical harm for young users than its Social Media Platforms are in reality;

c. representing, through the publication of CSER reports, and through other communications, that the incidence or prevalence of negative or harmful user experiences on Meta’s Social Media Platforms was lower than it actually was;

d. that Meta prioritized young users’ health and safety over maximizing profits, when in fact Meta subordinated young user health and safety to its goal of maximizing profits by prolonging young users’ time spent on its Social Media Platforms;

e. that under-13 users are effectively excluded by Meta from using Instagram and/or Facebook when in fact Meta was aware that its policies and practices were insufficient to exclude all under-13 users from the Platforms; and

f. that Meta’s collection of user data was not for the purpose of causing those users to become addicted to the Social Media Platforms, when in reality that was one of the purposes for which Meta collected user data.

1171. Each deceptive act or practice alleged herein, constitutes a separate violation of the Wisconsin Deceptive Trade Practices Act. By engaging in the acts and practices alleged herein, Meta engaged in deceptive acts or practices declared unlawful under Wis. Stat. § 100.18(1).