The product is the problem: Why Meta’s $17 billion settlement matters beyond America

The agreement could mark a turning point for public policies on social media precisely because it addresses the architecture of the platforms themselves.

By: Robert Muggah, Instituto Igarapé; Princeton University, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: September 4, 2026

Words: 1,690

Last Updated: 1 month, 2 weeks ago

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By Robert Muggah, Instituto Igarapé; Princeton University

There are good reasons to be skeptical about how much impact Meta’s latest legal settlement will have on the tech giant. After all, the social media giant has survived scandals, congressional hearings and regulatory fines before, usually without much lasting damage.

A court-approved settlement worth up to US$18 billion sounds enormous, but Meta can afford it: It’s equivalent to roughly just 8.5% of Meta’s …

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