The Globe and Mail reports in its Thursday, Aug. 20, edition that a former Meta engineering director testified that the company had a "don't ask, don't tell" policy regarding kids under 13 on its platforms during a landmark trial on child safety on Instagram. A Reuters dispatch to The Globe reports that Arturo Bejar testified that Meta prioritized profits over safety, focusing on user engagement even at the cost of mental well-being. A federal trial began Tuesday in Oakland, Calif., involving Meta and the states of California, Colorado, Kentucky and New Jersey, expected to last about six weeks. These four states are part of a larger group of 29 that sued Meta in 2023 over child safety and privacy, with the remaining 25 states set to go to trial later. Additionally, Meta faces lawsuits in state courts, including one in Tennessee. The lawsuit claims that Meta contributes to the youth mental health crisis by deliberately designing addictive features and hiding the resulting harms. It also alleges that Meta collects data on children under 13 without parental consent, violating federal law. Meta has rejected the claims and said evidence at the trial will show its commitment to safety.