A California federal judge overseeing discovery in sprawling litigation targeting social media giants over alleged youth mental-health harms refused Monday to grant Meta Platforms Inc. a protective order aimed at silencing a former researcher the company labeled “disgruntled.”
The ruling marks a significant setback for Meta as it faces allegations that it buried, altered, or suppressed internal research documenting potential risks to young users.
Meta Warns of Rogue Testimony From Ex-Researcher
U.S. Magistrate Judge Peter H. Kang delivered the ruling from the bench in San Francisco after Meta sought an order restricting testimony from Jason Sattizahn, a former Meta researcher who publicly testified before Congress in September during a Senate Judiciary subcommittee hearing titled “Hidden Harms.”
Meta attorney Timothy Hester of Covington & Burling LLP argued that without a protective order, Sattizahn might freely disclose attorney-client privileged communications during his deposition.
“We have no assurance Dr. Sattizahn will respect that instruction,” Hester said, calling him a “disgruntled former employee” who had “already disclosed privileged communications” in testimony to Congress.
Hester claimed Sattizahn’s attorney had indicated that his client planned to testify consistent with his Congressional statements—statements Meta insists include privileged content.
