Connecticut Attorney General William Tong has warned that more technology and social media companies could face legal action from state authorities following Meta’s $17.1bn settlement over allegations concerning children’s safety.
Tong identified Roblox, TikTok, Snapchat and YouTube as potential targets, saying the companies must take greater responsibility for protecting young users and addressing the spread of misinformation and disinformation.
Speaking to The Enforcers, POLITICO’s newsletter covering the activities of state attorneys general, he said, “Roblox, TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube are next. They all have to do the same thing: Protect our kids, and all of us, frankly, from misinformation and disinformation.”
The Connecticut attorney general has become an active figure in investigations involving technology companies and antitrust issues. His office has also opened an inquiry into Roblox.
Tong described Meta’s settlement with 47 states as an indication of the wider scrutiny facing the technology industry. The agreement, which reportedly involved $17.1bn, also led to significant restrictions on minors’ access to Instagram and Facebook.
He said state attorneys general would continue expanding consumer protection investigations, particularly into social media platforms and companies developing artificial intelligence.
According to Tong, the actions against Meta should not be viewed as an isolated case, but as part of a broader effort to address the effects of social media on children and young people.
“I think attorneys general have made it very clear,” he said. “Everybody knows that we are not just picking on Meta, right? This is the whole industry and the way in which social media harms young people and children.”
