Zuckerberg back on the stand? Meta boss expected to testify in trial on the heels of FTC grilling

Core Viewpoint - Shareholders are seeking to hold Mark Zuckerberg, Sheryl Sandberg, and other Meta officials accountable for over $8 billion in fines related to privacy practices, with a trial set to begin in Delaware's Court of Chancery [1][2]. Group 1: Legal Proceedings - The upcoming trial will focus on the Cambridge Analytica scandal, which is a significant issue in Meta's history, and may involve testimonies from other major tech figures [2][3]. - Shareholders claim that Zuckerberg, Sandberg, and former VP Konstantinos Papamiltiadis violated their fiduciary duties by failing to ensure compliance with a 2012 FTC consent order, which they argue contributed to the Cambridge Analytica incident [4][6]. - The shareholders' complaint highlights a 2019 decision by Facebook's Board of Directors to approve a $5 billion settlement with the FTC, asserting that directors ignored warning signs leading to the scandal [6][11]. Group 2: Background Information - In 2012, the FTC mandated that Facebook must provide users with clear notice and obtain their consent before sharing information beyond privacy settings, which was not adequately enforced [5][11]. - The Cambridge Analytica scandal involved the improper acquisition of data from up to 87 million users, leading to significant global investigations and a record $5 billion fine from the FTC in 2019 [11][12]. - The shareholders' attorneys reference a UK parliamentary investigation that concluded the scandal could have been avoided if Facebook had adhered to the 2012 consent decree [11]. Group 3: Defendants' Position - Attorneys for Zuckerberg and other defendants argue that there is no evidence suggesting that Meta's CEO acted unlawfully, claiming that the company was not indifferent to compliance [12][13]. - The case is described as involving alleged wrongdoing on a "truly colossal scale," indicating the seriousness of the accusations against the defendants [15]. Group 4: Judicial Context - The trial will be overseen by Chancellor Kathaleen McCormick, who has previously made notable rulings in high-profile cases, which has led to some discontent within the tech community regarding Delaware's Court of Chancery [16].