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Prince Harry Welcomes Lawsuits Against Major Tech Firms
The Duke of Sussex spoke of the 'personal and reputational cost' of standing up to big tech companies.
Apr. 1, 2026 at 4:39pm
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In a speech at the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) global summit, Prince Harry welcomed two landmark lawsuits against major tech companies, including Meta and YouTube. He spoke of 'harrowing stories' of how time spent on these platforms had led to 'grave and irreversible harm' and said 'the systems driving our social media platforms have been built to exploit, not protect.' The Sussexes' foundation had previously launched the Parents' Network to support families affected by social media.
Why it matters
Prince Harry's comments highlight growing concerns about the negative impacts of social media and big tech companies, particularly on children and young people. The lawsuits he referenced represent a significant legal challenge to the industry and could lead to greater accountability and change.
The details
In his speech, Prince Harry discussed how he and the Duchess of Sussex had spent time with parents involved in a Los Angeles case against Meta and YouTube, where a jury ordered the companies to pay $6 million in damages to a 20-year-old woman. He said this case, along with another in which Meta was ordered to pay $375 million in civil penalties, confirmed 'what parents have felt and experts have said all along - the systems driving our social media platforms have been built to exploit, not protect.' Harry also raised concerns about privacy issues, including state-sponsored surveillance, doxing, and the potential for AI-powered smart glasses to invade people's privacy.
- Last week, a New Mexico jury ordered Meta to pay $375 million in civil penalties.
- Last week, a Los Angeles jury ordered Meta and YouTube to pay $6 million in damages to a 20-year-old woman.
The players
Prince Harry
The Duke of Sussex who spoke at the IAPP global summit about the negative impacts of social media and big tech companies.
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex
The Duchess of Sussex, who joined Prince Harry in supporting families affected by social media through the Sussexes' foundation.
Meta
The parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, which was ordered to pay significant damages in two recent lawsuits.
YouTube
The video-sharing platform, which was ordered to pay damages alongside Meta in a recent Los Angeles lawsuit.
Parents' Network
A foundation launched by the Sussexes to support families whose children have been affected by social media.
What they’re saying
“About bloody time!”
— Prince Harry
“A jury confirmed what parents have felt and experts have said all along - the systems driving our social media platforms have been built to exploit, not protect. And the people at the heart of it have always known it.”
— Prince Harry
What’s next
The Sussexes are waiting to hear the outcome of their high court cases against the Daily Mail's publisher Associated Newspapers Ltd (ANL) for unlawful information-gathering, which ANL strongly denies.
The takeaway
Prince Harry's comments and the recent lawsuits against major tech companies highlight the growing public concern and demand for greater accountability and change within the social media and tech industry, particularly when it comes to protecting children and individual privacy.
