Friday, March 27, 2026

Holding big tech accountable

Plus: DHS shutdown isn't quite over ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌  ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ 
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This is America

Stories of justice and action across America

Fri Mar 27 2026

 

Americans appear posed to begin holding big tech companies accountable for the effects of social media, especially on younger users, in the wake of a landmark legal decision.

Hi there, This is America readers, I'm Phillip M. Bailey, chief political correspondent with USA TODAY.

A Los Angeles jury found Google and Meta, formerly known as Facebook, liable for $6 million in damages this week over claims that their popular social media apps -- think Instagram and YouTube -- are designed to get children addicted.

"Today's verdict is a referendum – from a jury, to an entire industry – that accountability has arrived," the plaintiff's lead counsel said in a statement.

Meta has already signaled it is looking to appeal the case, but the verdict underscores the growing concern nationally about the addictive nature of these apps. Legal experts have already chimed in anticipating that this decision will release the flood gates in terms of further litigation against big tech companies.

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A photograph shows the logo of Meta, the US company that owns and operates Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and WhatsApp.

Fabrice Coffrini, AFP via Getty Images

For more on big tech, check out USA TODAY's coverage:

Parents whose kids died after Instagram interactions speak out on shocking verdict: Six hours. That's the amount of time between when 17-year-old Jordan DeMay received a message from a flirty stranger on Instagram and when he took his own life.Big Tech takes on immigration with new migrant tracking software for ICE: Federal officials are building a sprawling new database system they're calling "ImmigrationOS" to track and target millions of people living illegally in the United States

Trump just settled Biden-era social media censorship case. Here's why.

The DHS shutdown isn't over just yet.

The Senate has unanimously passed a bill funding most of the Department of Homeland Security, which will hopefully bring an end to U.S.  airports being in turmoil.

House members are expected to take up the proposal that funds the U.S. Coast Guard, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Transportation Security Administration among other DHS agencies.

It doesn't include funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol, but Senate Democrats didn't get much of what they wanted in terms of their demands stemming from the  killings of two U.S. citizens in Minnesota earlier this year.

No ban on mask-wearing federal agents and no requirements for judicial warrants for immigration raids were in the final deal, which could spark a new clash once Congress returns from spring break.

U.S. first lady Jill Biden enters a vehicle as President Joe Biden looks on upon arrival at Philadelphia International airport, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S, March 8, 2024. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein

According to a preliminary investigation, the Secret Service agent accidentally shot himself while escorting former first lady Jill Biden.

Pedestrians walk past gas prices starting at $8.71 per gallon at a Chevron gas station on Alameda Ave near Union Station in Los Angeles, California on March 20, 2026. (Photo by Patrick T. Fallon / AFP via Getty Images)
 

$9 per gallon? California gas station going viral as prices rise

Photos show a gas station in Los Angeles charging nearly $9 a gallon for regular fuel as prices continue to rise amid the Iran-U.S. war.

A view of The Washington Post building ahead of a 'Save the Post' rally by union members and supporters outside The Washington Post after widespread layoffs were announced, in Washington, D.C., U.S., February 5, 2026. REUTERS/Ken Cedeno
 

Senator introduces bill boosting protections for journalists after FBI search

The "Privacy Protection Updates Act," is intended to close legal loopholes that have been used against journalists, Wyden's office said.

People participate in a "No Kings" national day of protest in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on October 18, 2025. From New York to San Francisco, millions of Americans are expected to hit the streets to voice their anger over President Donald Trump's policies at nationwide "No Kings" protests. (Photo by Matthew HATCHER / AFP) (Photo by MATTHEW HATCHER/AFP via Getty Images)
 

When and where are No Kings protests taking place?

Thousands of No Kings protests are set for this weekend. Here are the planned locations.

A stethoscope rests on top of a very expensive medical invoice that has line items for different services provided.
 

How hospitals tap bank accounts, paychecks over unpaid medical bills

Virginia hospitals, doctors and medical providers brought 1.15 million lawsuits to collect $1.4 billion in medical debt from consumers from 2010 to 2024.

 

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