Zuckerberg faced intense questioning during a court session about how Meta, the company behind Facebook and Instagram, operates. The CEO often accused Lanier, the person questioning him, of misunderstanding his previous comments. When asked about emails, Zuckerberg typically objected, citing their age or his lack of knowledge about the employees involved. He often stated, “I don’t think so,” when asked about knowing key figures at Meta.
Lanier suggested that Zuckerberg’s answers seemed rehearsed, mentioning his media training. Zuckerberg joked about his skills, saying, “I think I’m sort of well-known to be pretty bad at this,” which amused the courtroom. Lanier later showed documents revealing how Zuckerberg was guided on how to answer questions, including while testifying. When asked about speaking to the media due to his role, Zuckerberg said, “More than I would like,” which drew laughter again.
A strict warning was given to anyone wearing recording glasses during the proceedings, reminding them about the rules against recording.
Lanier’s lawsuit tries to work around important laws that protect tech companies from being blamed for user content. Zuckerberg maintained that the lawsuit misrepresents how Meta functions. When evidence showed that Meta aimed to increase user engagement, Zuckerberg said these were not real objectives. Lanier pointed out that K.G.M., a young user, signed up for Instagram before it asked for age details, highlighting concerns about Meta’s policies. In a strong ending, Lanier presented a large display of K.G.M.’s posts, signifying the time spent on the app. Zuckerberg, surprised, replied, “I’m not sure that’s accurate.” When given a chance to present a positive view of Meta, Zuckerberg said, “I wanted people to have a good experience with it.”
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