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Meta vows to ‘aggressively’ fight after landmark verdicts find tech giant liable for addicting kids

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A top Meta lawyer says the company will “aggressively” pursue appeals after two juries found it liable for hundreds of millions of dollars in damages.

Juries in California and New Mexico recently found Meta liable for designing addictive platforms and violating consumer protection laws. Meta plans to appeal the rulings.

“We disagree with these verdicts, respectfully,” C.J. Mahoney, Meta’s chief legal officer, said on “Saturday in America.”

“We think that they’re vulnerable on appeal, and we’re going to pursue those appeals aggressively,” he added.

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On Wednesday, a Los Angeles jury found both Meta and Google liable for designing their products to make young people addicted. Jurors awarded the plaintiff $6 million after a nine-day trial. The plaintiff, known as KGM, testified that she became addicted to social media as a child and that it worsened her mental health struggles.

Mahoney said Meta should not be blamed for the youth mental health crisis.

“We do not believe that our platform is responsible for the teen mental health crisis in this country,” he said.

JOSEPH GORDON-LEVITT SLAMS BIG TECH FOR SEXTORTION, THREATS TO CHILDREN WHILE CALLING FOR KEY INTERNET REFORM

“It’s not [going to] be the payday that the plaintiff’s lawyers would like it to be,” Mahoney added.

Instead, he argued that both parents and schools should take responsibility for children’s social media use and that blaming tech companies oversimplifies the situation.

“Trying to pin all of this on one social media company or even the tech industry, I think, simplifies the problem in a way that isn’t helpful,” he added.

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Mark Lanier, the plaintiff’s lead attorney, called the verdict a major victory.

“The simple truth of the matter is, if we don’t hold these companies accountable for purposefully addicting children to their platforms to enrich their coffers, nobody will,” he said Friday on “Fox & Friends.”

Lanier noted that while it’s fine for social media companies to want to grow their user base, it cannot come at the “expense of our children.”

The California verdict came only days after a jury in New Mexico also found Meta liable for harming children’s mental health and jeopardizing their safety. Meta must pay $375 million in damages.

Platforms TikTok and Snap had been defendants in the California trial but settled before the case went to a jury.

The full interview with Meta Chief Legal Officer C.J. Mahoney will air on “Saturday in America” at 10 a.m. ET.

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Secret Service agent assigned to Jill Biden injured in ‘negligent discharge’ at Philadelphia airport

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A U.S. Secret Service agent assigned to former first lady Jill Biden reportedly shot himself in the leg at Philadelphia airport. 

KYW Newsradio reported that the Secret Service agent assigned to the former first lady accidentally shot himself in the leg early Friday at Philadelphia International Airport and a large police presence was outside the American Airlines ticket counter at Terminal C.

“On Friday morning just after 8:30, an on-duty U.S. Secret Service Special Agent suffered a non-life-threatening injury following a negligent discharge while handling a service weapon at the Philadelphia International Airport during a protective assignment,” Secret Service spokesman Nate Herring said in a statement to Fox News Digital.

“There was no impact to the protectee’s movement and they were not present at the time of the incident,” he said. “There were no reported injuries to any other individuals and the special agent is being evaluated at an area hospital in stable condition. The Secret Service’s Office of Professional Responsibility will be reviewing the facts and circumstances of this incident. We are grateful for our law enforcement and public safety partners who provided medical assistance.”

This is a breaking news story and will be updated.

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George Clooney and Natalie Portman lead Hollywood exodus to France to escape ‘pressure cooker’: experts

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Over recent years, Hollywood giants have abandoned their home country and moved their families to France.

George and Amal Clooney, Angelina Jolie and Natalie Portman are just a few of Hollywood’s heaviest hitters who have ditched the U.S. to raise their kids overseas. This trend of celebrities fleeing the States may be for a number of reasons — escape from paparazzi, privacy, the culture.

Cultural commentator Jonathan Alpert says that stars are fleeing since Hollywood has started to feel like a “pressure cooker.”

“Hollywood has become deeply political in recent years, and for some celebrities that environment can feel like a pressure cooker,” he began. “Every comment, role, or social media post is scrutinized through a political or culture-war lens, and that kind of atmosphere can push people to look for some distance.”

CHRIS HEMSWORTH ADMITS DITCHING LA WAS ‘GREATEST DECISION’ HE’S MADE

For Portman, who raises her young children Aleph and Amalia in Paris, the biggest plus of raising her kids in France is the privacy.

“They’re very good at privacy here. I feel like the biggest compliment is ‘elle est très discrète’ [‘she is very discreet’],” Portman told Net-A-Porter last year.

Celebrity real estate agent Josh Flagg told Fox News Digital that stars like Portman have the flexibility to leave Los Angeles, the entertainment hub, due to their level of success.

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“Yes, especially once they reach a certain level of success,” Flagg said when asked if stars prioritize privacy and anonymity more than proximity to the industry.

“When you’re starting out, you need to be in Los Angeles. But once your career is established, you can fly in when you need to work. At that point, privacy, security, and overall quality of life become much bigger priorities,” he continued.

The “Black Swan” star told Net-A-Porter that she appreciates the politeness that comes with raising her children in France.

ALI LARTER SAYS HER AND HER HUSBAND DITCHED LA AND ‘FULLY COMMITTED’ TO IDAHO MOVE FOR THEIR KIDS

“All the kids that come to my house are, like, ‘Bonjour Madame,’ and give me the bise [cheek-to-cheek kiss],” she said. “And before they leave, they are, like, ‘Thank you for having me,’ and if I’m not nearby, they’ll come and find me to say it.”

George and Amal Clooney ditched the U.S. and obtained French citizenship last year. The couple has been living in France with their children after uprooting the family to get away from the culture of Hollywood, the Academy Award-winning actor and director said in October. 

In an interview with Esquire, Clooney, 64, opened up about his life in France and explained why they chose to move his family to the countryside.

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“You know, we live on a farm in France. A good portion of my life growing up was on a farm, and as a kid I hated the whole idea of it. But now, for them, it’s like – they’re not on their iPads, you know? They have dinner with grown-ups and have to take their dishes in. They have a much better life.”

“I was worried about raising our kids in L.A., in the culture of Hollywood. I felt like they were never going to get a fair shake at life,” he continued. 

Albert told Fox News Digital that many of these stars aren’t leaving LA for good, and are just seeking a get-away.

“Most of these stars aren’t truly leaving the American entertainment world. They still work here and often maintain homes here. In many cases, it’s less an exodus and more about creating breathing room from the scrutiny and political intensity that surrounds Hollywood today,” he said.

Flagg explained that there are several aspects of France that are appealing to high-profile stars.

“France has always had a special pull for artists and celebrities. Paris and the South of France offer culture, architecture, food, and history in a way very few places do,” he began. “But the biggest factor is privacy. In many parts of France, even major stars can live relatively normal lives compared to Los Angeles. There’s also a long tradition of creatives gravitating there.”

‘BREAKING BAD’ STAR AARON PAUL MOVES FAMILY FROM LOS ANGELES TO PARIS FOLLOWING LA FIRES

Although Jolie doesn’t live in France, she and her ex-husband, Brad Pitt, have owned Château Miraval since 2008. The former couple remains embroiled in a bitter dispute over the French winery. However, according to The Telegraph, Jolie may return to France in the future to live and work.

Jolie spoke to Le Monde in February about what it’s like to be a woman in France. “I find it very enriching as an artist and as a woman to be in France. I feel that more of myself comes out here. The conversations seem deeper and more enriching to me,” she told the outlet.

“Breaking Bad” star Aaron Paul moved his wife and two kids to France after the devastating fires in Los Angeles in 2025. Speaking to Travel + Leisure, he explained that they have acclimated well.

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“Love the food, the history, the people. Every time I came to Paris, I never wanted to leave. We wanted our kids to learn another language and be surrounded by another culture. It was very important to us,” Paul said.

In 2021, filmmaker Wes Anderson — who has lived in France for years — told The New Yorker, “anytime I walk down a street I don’t know well, it’s like going to the movies. It’s just entertaining.”

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In 2023, Christina Milian moved her family to France and has since admitted that they will reside there for most of their lives.

Milian is married to French singer M. Pokora, so choosing to stay in France was not a hard decision for the American actress.

“I do think we’ll stay [in Paris] for a long time and that’s really going to be a landmark place for us. To stay most of our lives,” Milian told People in 2024. “My kids go to school there. I want the kids to continue speaking the language. It’s easy to switch to English all the time. So it’s nice that my daughter loves school there.”

“We’re Frenchies,” she concluded.

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DarkSword leak puts millions of iPhone users at risk

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Last week, researchers warned about a sophisticated iPhone hacking tool called DarkSword. Now the situation has escalated. A newer version of that tool has been leaked online and posted to a public code-sharing site. That changes everything. What was once limited to advanced attackers is now far easier to access and use. Security experts say this could quickly turn into a widespread threat, especially for people using older Apple software.

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DON’T IGNORE APPLE’S URGENT SECURITY UPDATE
 

Before the leak, tools like DarkSword required skill, resources and time. Now, much of that barrier is gone. The leaked version is surprisingly simple. It uses basic web technologies like HTML and JavaScript. That means someone with minimal experience could copy the code, host it and launch an attack in a short amount of time. Researchers say the exploits can work right away with little setup. No deep knowledge of iOS is required. That is the real shift here. The tool itself did not suddenly become more powerful. It became easier to use.

This is where the numbers get concerning. DarkSword targets iPhones and iPads running older operating systems, especially iOS 18 and earlier. According to Apple’s own data, a large share of active devices still falls into that group. With billions of Apple devices in use worldwide, that could leave hundreds of millions of users exposed. Apple says these attacks specifically target outdated versions of iOS, often through malicious links or compromised websites. If your device is not updated, it could be vulnerable.

This is not a minor nuisance. The leaked code includes instructions for pulling sensitive data directly from a device. Once it gains access, it can:

There are also references to activity that happens after the initial compromise, which suggests attackers can dig deeper once they are inside. In simple terms, this is full access to your digital life.

Apple has already addressed the issue for newer devices. The company pushed updates that block these attacks on current versions of iOS. It also released a security update for older devices that are unable to run the latest version of iOS. Apple says these attacks target out-of-date software and can be triggered through malicious links or compromised websites. If your iPhone is up to date, you are already protected. Apple also says keeping your software updated is the single most important step you can take to protect your device. Devices running the latest versions of iOS were not at risk from these attacks. For older devices, Apple released updates on March 11, 2026, to extend protections. Devices running iOS 13 or iOS 14 must update to iOS 15 to receive those protections. 

We reached out to Apple for comment, and the company pointed us to its official security guidance at support.apple.com/en-us/126776 for more details.

THOUSANDS OF IPHONE APPS EXPOSE DATA INSIDE APPLE APP STORE
 

If you have been putting off software updates, now is the time to stop. This situation shows how quickly a targeted threat can turn into a mass risk. Once tools like this are public, they spread fast. Even if you are not specifically being targeted, attackers can automatically scan for vulnerable iPhones and go after them in large numbers.

A quick check can make a big difference:

If this sounds concerning, it should. The good news is that there are a few simple steps that can significantly reduce your risk.

As I mentioned above, this is the most important step. Apple has already patched the vulnerability in newer versions of iOS. If your device is updated, you are protected from this specific attack.

Lockdown Mode is designed for high-risk situations, but anyone can use it. It limits certain features that attackers often rely on.

Go to SettingsPrivacy & SecurityLockdown Mode to enable it.

Keep in mind: Lockdown Mode is an extreme security setting. It restricts some apps, websites and features, and certain functions may not work as expected while it is turned on.

Many of these attacks rely on you to click on malicious links or open a compromised website. If you receive a strange link in a message or email, do not tap it. Also, use strong antivirus software to help detect malicious links and block suspicious activity before it can compromise your device. Get my picks for the best 2026 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android & iOS devices at Cyberguy.com

YOUR PHONE SHARES DATA AT NIGHT: HERE’S HOW TO STOP IT
 

Even if your iOS is current, outdated apps can still create security gaps. Regular updates close those openings.

If your personal information is already circulating online, it can make you an easier target. Data removal services help delete your details from data broker sites, which reduces the amount of information attackers can access in the first place. Check out my top picks for data removal services and get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web by visiting Cyberguy.com

Set a strong passcode, enable Face ID or Touch ID and avoid using public Wi-Fi without protection. These steps add another layer of defense.

Some identity theft companies can alert you if your personal data is exposed or being used without your knowledge. That can help you act faster if something goes wrong. See my tips and best picks on Best Identity Theft Protection at Cyberguy.com

This is one of those moments where a simple step makes a real difference. Keeping your phone updated is easy to put off, but it is one of the most effective ways to stay protected. When tools like DarkSword become widely available, outdated devices stand out as easy targets. This is real, and it is happening now. So, update your iPhone today.

So here is the bigger question. If a basic update can block a serious attack, what is stopping people from doing it? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com

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