The Lawyer Holding Big Tech Accountable by ‘Beating the Tar Out of Them’ in Court

Mark Lanier, whose legal team helped win the first social media addiction trial against Meta and Google, said lawsuits can pressure technology companies to change. He argued that cases brought by state attorneys general could bring greater financial consequences and broader changes than individual claims.

The March verdict awarded the plaintiff $6 million, a small sum compared with the companies’ resources. In a separate case brought by several states, Meta agreed to pay up to $16.7 billion to 51 states and territories and to introduce measures including a default two-hour daily limit for teenagers on Instagram and Facebook. Lanier said public awareness and pressure also matter because they can affect how people and employees view the companies.