<p>On today’s show, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0n8t42f">Meta and Google found negligent</a> in social media addiction trial joining us to discuss this landmark ruling is Tech Reported for Politico <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.politico.com/news/2026/03/25/meta-youtube-found-liable-for-social-media-addiction-in-landmark-trial-00844625?utm_medium=activitypub&amp;utm_source=flipboard">Aaron Mak</a>.</p><p>But first it's the week unwrapped:</p><p><br></p><p>Failed Reform candidate <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10pjryz362c">Matt Goodwin’s new book</a> is reportedly filled with falsehoods and hallucinations after allegations that he extensively used ChatGPT to write it. Prompting him to have the nickname, MattGpt.</p><p><br></p><p>The Reform UK candidate who lost a crunch by-election last month has defended using AI to help write his latest book.</p><p><br></p><p>Matt Goodwin came in second place, behind the Green Party’s Hannah Spencer, in the Gorton and Denton vote – a sign that Nigel Farage’s party may be losing momentum with voters.</p><p>Now the ex-university academic, who came under fire during the campaign for calling for women and young girls to be given a “biological reality” check, has had to defend his use of ChatGPT on his latest book, Suicide of a Nation: Immigration, Islam, Identity.</p><p><br></p><p>The book has been described as a “story of how Britain, one of the most remarkable countries on earth, is not just in decline but is committing national suicide”.</p><p>--</p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://news.sky.com/story/what-is-the-controversy-over-morgan-mcsweeneys-stolen-phone-13524327">Morgan Mcsweeney </a>has claimed that his phone, containing all his messages for friend of a nonce Peter Mandelson has been stolen. The convenience of which has led to some doubting this claim. Keir Starmer today said it was “far-fetched” to claim that Mcsweeney is lying. </p><p>--</p><p>And finally <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.bing.com/ck/a?!&amp;&amp;p=0a8de436ab45031d9ec947adb0d018834b6efd1f72eb83bfd7524895ee5a4c13JmltdHM9MTc3NDU2OTYwMA&amp;ptn=3&amp;ver=2&amp;hsh=4&amp;fclid=07d4189c-6d4f-6ebc-28aa-0ebe6c686f3f&amp;psq=nigel+farage+hints+mp&amp;u=a1aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYmJjLmNvLnVrL25ld3MvYXJ0aWNsZXMvYzV5OTg5NjNwM3hv">Nigel Farage has hinted that one of his former MPs</a> in Essex, who quit Reform UK after allegations of financial misconduct, could rejoin his party.</p><p>Nigel Farage has hinted that one of his former MPs in Essex, who quit Reform UK after allegations of financial misconduct, could rejoin his party.</p><p><br></p><p>James McMurdock gave up his party whip last year over questions about his eligibility for Covid-19 support loans that he received through two companies. He denied any wrongdoing.</p><p>Asked during a local election campaign visit to Corringham in Essex, Farage said "I'm hoping we can get this thing ironed out".</p><p><br></p><p>McMurdock sits as an independent for South Basildon and East Thurrock, which includes Corringham, and he confirmed he would like to rejoin the party.</p><p>--</p><p>After this, Technology Reporter for Politico, based in the US, Aaron Mak joins the show to explain several landmark social media rulings.</p><p><br></p><p>Meta has just lost a court case that could have huge implications for children in the future. The company behind Whatsapp, Instagram and Facebook has just been fined $375 million dollars for damaging children’s mental health and exposing them to sexual content.</p><p>But that is not the only court case which Meta has lost this week. Yesterday a woman successfully won her case over her childhood addiction to social media.</p><p>In a small court in Los Angeles, both Meta and Youtube were found liable. Now they are facing a wave of 40 more similar lawsuits.</p><p><br></p><p>Los Angeles Case</p><p><br></p><p>The woman, known as Kaley, was awarded $6m in damages (NYT) </p><p>She also received an additional $3m punitive damages (NYT) </p><p>Jurors determined Meta and Google "acted with malice, oppression, or fraud" (NYT)</p><p>Kaley said she started using Instagram aged nine and YouTube aged six, and encountered no attempts to block her because of her age (NYT)</p><p>Meta and Google said they disagreed with the verdict and intended to appeal (BBC)</p><p>Meta said: "Teen mental health is profoundly complex and cannot be linked to a single app.”</p><p>Meta faces a wave of more than 40 similar lawsuits </p><p><br></p><p>Child Social Media Case</p><p><br></p><p>A court in New Mexico ruled that the company behind WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook was liable for how its platform exposed children to sexually explicit content and predators.</p><p>Meta says it will appeal the decision and that it works hard to keep people safe on its platforms.</p><p>Experts say the ruling could now have big consequences around the world (NYT)</p><p>There are currently more than 2,000 active cases looking at social media harm in the US (BBC)</p><p><br></p><p>Guest Bio:</p><p><br></p><p>Aaron Mak is a technology reporter at POLITICO. As an undergraduate, he interned at POLITICO Magazine and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Aaron later worked as a technology reporter at Slate, where he won a Writers Guild of America award for a feature delving into Asian men’s rights groups on social media. Aaron holds a bachelor’s degree from Yale College and a JD from Yale Law School. In his free time, he likes watching cult classics and listening to cloud rap.</p><p><br></p><p>Hosts: Zoe Grunewald and Ali Milani</p><p>Guest: Aaron Mak</p><p>Producers: Hugh Smiley and Ruth Rashleigh</p>