United States of America: Announced lawsuit challenging Google and YouTube for allegedly engaging in deceptive trade practices affecting the youth (State of Arkansas v Alphabet, XXVI Holdings, Google and YouTube) (54CV-24)

On 30 September 2024, the Attorney General of Arkansas announced it had filed a lawsuit challenging Google, YouTube, Alphabet, and XXVI Holdings for engaging in deceptive trade practices affecting young people, in violation of the Arkansas Deceptive Trade Practices Act. The complaint claims that the companies have misled users and parents about the safety of their platforms for young people, deliberately designing it to be addictive and profiting significantly from young residents of Arkansas. The complaint highlights a concerning rise in mental health issues among the youth, attributing this to social media companies, which exploit and addict young users while prioritising profits over their well-being. The complaint also claims that the defendants collected extensive user data, including location and search history, without proper disclosure about the financial benefits accrued from increased user engagement and potential data sales to third parties.