The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have published a statement on their Sussex.com website expressing support for a landmark federal court case in which 29 US State Governments are collectively taking on Meta over child safety concerns.The statement, titled “29 States Take Meta to Federal Court Over Child Safety,” describes the proceedings as “another historic trial against social media and AI behemoth Meta.”Harry and Meghan characterised the legal action as an “unprecedented bipartisan coalition” demanding that the tech giant be held to account for privacy breaches and dangerous design choices on Facebook and Instagram that put young users in harm’s way.The couple framed the trial as long-overdue validation for campaigners, writing: “This trial confirms what families and experts have been saying for years – Meta’s harms were a financial choice, not an innovation accident.”The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have published a statement on their Sussex.com website expressing support for a landmark federal court case in which 29 US State Governments are collectively taking on Meta over child safety concerns | PAAccording to the Sussex.com statement, a legal representative for the coalition of state attorneys general argued that Meta’s commercial model does not merely contribute to but actively depends upon harvesting young people’s personal information and monopolising their attention.The couple stressed that this was “not a fringe accusation” but rather something “outlined in the company’s own internal research.”The coalition brings together Governments from across the political spectrum, Republican, Democrat, and swing states alike, in what the statement called “a rarely seen coalition of red, blue, and purple governments.”Attorneys general from Kentucky, New Jersey, Colorado, and California are spearheading the effort, having opened proceedings by directly challenging Meta’s business practices and the way its platforms are engineered.People hold pictures of children and young adults whose deaths were related to social media use, as Meta faces a landmark trial in federal court | REUTERSThe statement drew parallels with other recent legal defeats for the company, noting that a court in New Mexico had ordered Meta to pay in excess of $942million (£690million) after finding that its apps’ unsafe design endangered young people’s mental health.The Sussexes argued these cases were “not isolated incidents” but part of a broader pattern, one that “juries and legislators respond to.”The couple also highlighted the whistleblower evidence of Arturo Bejar, a father and former Meta employee, whose testimony described what the statement called a “don’t ask, don’t tell” approach to child safety within the company.They pointed to well-documented internal records showing that Meta actively pursued features designed to be addictive, questioning how the firm could “withstand the facts” now emerging in court.People hold a picture and a placard with names of young people, as parents of children and young adults whose deaths were allegedly related to social media use hold a press conference | REUTERSThe statement also referenced the devastating personal toll, including “countless stories from parents who have lost their children to suicide” and families who have seen irreparable damage done to their young ones.Members of The Parents’ Network, an advocacy group launched in 2024 by Harry and Meghan’s Archewell Philanthropies, were among those gathered outside the courthouse as the hearing got under way. The Sussexes praised these parents and campaigners for “standing tall” in the face of what they described as an enormous moment.Closing their statement, Harry and Meghan declared their solidarity with the families involved, writing: “The reckoning many families have waited years for has finally reached the federal courtroom.LATEST ROYAL NEWS:Meta lawyer Paul W. Schmidt (pictured) argued that the company has a track record of sharing information about social media harms | REUTERS”We stand with them as we wait to see what this trial will mean for children across the country and the world.”Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, says it “strongly disagrees” with the allegations.A spokeswoman said: “We strongly disagree with these allegations and are confident the evidence will show our longstanding commitment to supporting young people.” In addition, Meta lawyer Paul W. Schmidt argued that the company has a track record of sharing information about social media harms, that enforcing content and age limit policies is complicated, and that its employees are actively working to improve the platforms’ impact on user wellbeing.