In a legal battle between Meta and the Massachusetts Attorney General’s office, a judge ruled that the state is not required to turn over documents from other agencies in a lawsuit accusing Instagram of harming children and teens.
Suffolk County Superior Court Justice Helene Kazanjian’s ruling, issued Tuesday, reinforces the independence of the Massachusetts Attorney General’s office, stating that the office is not obligated to search for or provide documents held by other state agencies. Meta Platforms had requested access to these materials as part of its defense in the state’s 2023 lawsuit under public nuisance and consumer protection laws.
Attorney General’s Independent Authority
Justice Kazanjian clarified that the Attorney General’s office is acting independently in this case, representing the interests of Massachusetts consumers rather than any specific state agency. As such, the office has no authority or obligation to search other departments for documents requested by Meta, the judge explained.
