♪♪ MUSIC PLAYING ♪♪ >> COMING UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON", ARIZONA'S SECRETARY OF STATE ADRIEN FONTES RESPONDS TO CLAIMS THAT HE INTERFERED WITH A FEDERAL INVESTIGATION.

ALSO TONIGHT, THE RAMIFICATIONS I'VE LANDMARK VERDICT AGAINST SOCIAL MEDIA GIANTS META AND GOOGLE.

AND A LOCAL NONPROFIT LOOKS TO BREAK THE STIGMA SURROUNDING TEEN SUICIDE AND MENTAL ILLNESS, THOSE STORIES AND MORE NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

>> "ARIZONA HORIZON" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE FRIENDS OF ARIZONA PBS, MEMBERS OF YOUR PUBLIC TELEVISION STATION.

>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON", I AM TED SIMONS.

STATE SENATE PRESIDENT WARREN PETERSON CALLING FOR A FEDERAL INVESTIGATION INTO ATTORNEY GENERAL KRIS MAYES AND SECRETARY OF STATE ADRIEN FONTES, CLAIM THAT GO THE TWO INTERFERED WITH A FEDERAL PROBE TIED TO BALLOTS UP CAST BY MARICOPA COUNT VOTERS IN THE 2020 ELECTION.

ADRIEN FONTES JOINS YOU NOW TO RESPOND TO THE ALLEGATIONS.

WE SHOULD KNOW THAT WE REACHED OUT TO WARREN PETERSON AND SAID HE WOULD ONLY CONSIDER AN IT'S VIEW AFTER THE INVESTIGATION IS COMPLETE.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE SECRETARY FANS AT THE.

HE WANTS A FEDERAL INVESTIGATION THE CLAIM IS THAT YOU AND THE ATTORNEY INNING FEARED WITH A FEDERAL PROBE.

TO YOU DO YOU RESPOND TO THAT?

>> WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN AN EMAIL TURN INTERESTED A CIRCUS IN.

MY EFFORT TO FOLLOW THE LAW AND PROTECT ARIZONA'S VOTERS' INFORMATION, WHAT WE DID WAS INQUIRE AS TO THE SENATE PRESIDENT WHAT WAS PART OF THE STUFF THAT EVENT TO THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AND THE FBI UNDER THE SUBPOENA THAT HE FULFILLED SOME TIME BACK.

BECAUSE HE, AS WELL AS EVERYBODY ELSE WHO IS INVOLVED WITH MAINTAINING AND HOLD THIS IS DATA, HAS A DUTY TO ARIZONA'S CITIZENS TO PROTECT CERTAIN PARTS OF THIS DATA FROM RELEASE UNLAWFULLY.

AND HE SHOULD KNOW, BECAUSE HE'S AN ATTORNEY, YOU CAN CHALLENGE A SUBPOENA IN WHOLE OR IN PART.

AND HE NEVER CHALLENGED ANY OF THE PART OF THE SUBPOENA THAT MIGHT HAVE PERTAINED TO PERSONAL IDENTIFYING INFORMATION.

SO IN OUR EFFORT TO FOLLOW STATE LAW, AND PROTECT ARIZONA'S PERSONAL IDENTIFYING SENSITIVE INFORMATION, WE HAVE BEEN FIGHTING AGAINST THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE'S REQUEST AND HE JUST SURRENDERED EVERYTHING OVER.

I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF HE KNOWS WHAT WAS IN THAT INFORMATION.

MUCH LESS DID HE KNOW WHETHER OR NOT HE SHOULD BE REDACTING IT.

AND IT'S GOT SOME PRETTY IMPORTANT RAMIFICATIONS FOR SOME PEOPLE.

>> TALK ABOUT THOSE RAMIFICATIONSES.

>> WELL, I MEAN, LET'S ASSUME FOR A MOMENT YOU ARE A 20-YEAR-OLD VOTER IN 2020 WHEN YOU REGISTERED TO VOTE, AND IN 2026, NOW, YOU ARE A POLICE OFFICER.

OR YOU WERE AN ATTORNEY THEN AND NOW A PROSECUTOR.

THESE ARE PROTECTED INFORMATION, THEIR DATA IS SUPPOSED TO BE PROTECTED FROM ANY INNIE CHOIR IS.

DID HE EVEN CHECK THAT?

THE FACT THAT WE ARE CHALLENGE THE KNOWING THAT THE THE DATA CAN BE SENT OUT WILLY NILLY SHE'SING A THAT'S INTERFERENCE WHAT HE CALLS INTERFERENCE I CALL FOLLOWING LAW.

HE'S PERFECTLY MISS GUIDED IN HIS ASSESSMENT.

>> HE'S CLAIM THAT GO YOU ENCOURAGED STATE AND LOCAL OFFICIALS TO REFUSE COMPLIANCE FEDERAL GRAND JURY SUBPOENAS, DID YOU DO SO?

>> NO, WE ENCOURAGED COMPLIANCE WITH THE LAW.

THE LAW IS VERY CLEAR IN THIS AREA, AND IF HE WAS REALLY READ UP ON THIS STUFF, HE WOULD ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT ANY TIME YOU RECEIVE A SUBPOENA, IF YOU ARE A CUSTODIAN OF RECORDS, YOU HAVE A DUTY TO PROTECT THOSE RECORDS.

YOU CAN CLARIFY THAT SUBPOENA WITH THE COURT AND SAY, HEY, COURT, DO WE TURN EVERYTHING OVER?

OR JUST THE UNREDACTED PARTS?

WHAT IS IT EXACTLY THAT WE NEED TO TURNOVER IF THAT CLARIFICATION IS NECESSARY?

WE HAVE NO EVIDENCE THAT HE TOOK AT THAT CAUTIONARY STEP TO PROTECT VOTERS' DATA.

SO THE FACT THAT HE'S SAYING I AM INTERFERING WITH SOMETHING IS REALLY A DEFLECTION FROM THE FACT THAT HE MAY NOT HAVE FOLLOWED THE LAW HIMSELF.

>> BUT WAS IT NECESSARY, I THINK THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE WAS ASKING FOR WHAT VOTER INFORMATION WAS SENT.

WAS IT NECESSARY FOR YOU AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO MAKE THESE REQUESTS, TO ASK THESE QUESTIONS?

HE'S SAYING IT'S NOT NECESSARY, YOU ARE INTERFERING?

>> HE'S SAYING IT'S NOT FESS AND WE ARE I WANT FEARING BECAUSE IT'S PROBABLY TO COVER UP WHAT HE HAS DONE.

AND THAT IS NOT CHECK.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE CERTAIN DUTIES THAT WE HAVE TO FOLLOW UNDER THE LAW.

AND THE LAW IS WHAT DICTATES HERE.

IN AMERICA WE STILL FOLLOW THE RULE OF LAW.

IF HE WITH DIDN'T FALL THE ALTHOUGH AND CERTAIN CLASS SAYINGS OF VOTERS AND CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE NOW VULNERABLE.

HE'S NOT JUST TURNING THE DATA OVER TO SOME VOTER ORGANIZATION OR TO SOME OTHER REGISTRAR, HE'S STERNING IT OVER TO THE SAME FOLKS WHO PUT 300 MILLION SOCIAL SECURITY RECORDS ON UNSECURED SERVERS.

WE CANNOT RELY ON THESE FOLKS TO KEEP YOUR DATA AS ARIZONANS SAFE.

I AM TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHETHER OR NOT THERE IS A PROBLEM.

IF HE DID FOLLOW THE LAW, ALL HE HAD TO DO IS SEND ME AN E MAIL AND SAY WE FOLLOWED THE LAW.

BUT HE'S CHOSEN INSTEAD TO TURN THIS INTO A CIRCUS AND THAT'S ON HIM.

>> AND HE'S SAYING THAT THIS IS -- YOUR ACTIONS AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S ACTIONS ARE I THINK THE DESCRIPTION WAS THINLY VEILED ATTEMPT TO INTIMIDATE COUNTY RECORDERS AND ELECTION OFFICIALS.

HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO THAT?

>> WELL, HIS THINLY VEILED ATTEMPT TO UNDERSTAND AND FOLLOW THROUGH WITH HIS DUTIES TO PROTECT ARIZONANS IS THINLY VEILED.

WE TOLD PEOPLE WHAT THE LAW IS.

AND WE NEVER SAID YOU SHOULD NOT COMPLY WITH A GRAND JURY THAT'S INACCURATE ON ITS FACE YOU CAN GO TO THE CORRESPONDENCE IT'S PUBLICALLY AVAILABLE.

WE NEVER TOLD ANYBODY THEY WOULD GET IN TROUBLE IF THEY FOLLOWED THE LAW.

WE EMPHASIZED THAT YOU HAVE A DIRT TOY PROTECT ARIZONANS INFORMATION.

SENSITIVE INFORMATION, LYING YOUR DAY AND MONTH OF BIRTH.

YOUR MOM'S MAIDEN NAME.

TRIBAL I.D.

NUMBERS, DRIVER'S LICENSE NUMBERS THAT ARE SENSITIVE INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE BATTLED TO PROTECT.

I HAVE BEND STANDING IN THE WAY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE GETTING THIS INFORMATION AND HANDING IT OVER TO ICE OR THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY.

I HAVE BEEN STANDING IN THE WAY AND HE'S BASICALLY JUST DOING WHATEVER THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION WANTS.

AND THAT COULD BE A PROBLEM IF HE DIDN'T FOLLOW THE LAW.

>> BUT BY STANDING IN THE WAY, THAT'S PART OF WHAT THE REQUEST DESCRIBES IS A PATTERN OF CONDUCT THAT SUGGESTS AN INNING A P PRACTICE RAT ATTEMPT TO INTERFERE WITH A GRAND JURY INVESTIGATION.

A PATTERN OF BEHAVIOR.

YOU HAVE TALKED ABOUT HOW THIS IS -- YOU ARE AT ODDS HERE.

THIS IS A -- >> SURE.

>> HE SAID, SHE SAID, LEFT, RIGHT, WHATEVER OPPORTUNITY TO CALL IT.

>> SURE.

>> HE CALLS IT A PATTERN OF BEHAVIOR AND THINKS IT'S INTERFERENCE.

DOES HE HAVE A BIT OF A POINT?

>> NO, HE DOESN'T HAVE A BIT OF POINT.

IF I WAS ACTUALLY INTERFERING, THERE IS LEGAL DEFINITIONS THAT MATTER HERE.

AND WORDS REALLY MATTER.

WE ALSO KNOW THAT HIS POLITICAL ALLYS HAVE BEEN WORKING TOWARDS THIS NOTION THAT WE DON'T FOLLOW THE LAW.

WE DO.

WE MAKE SURE THAT ONLY CITIZENS ARE VOTING.

WE MAKE SURE FOLKS ARE DOING -- GETTING THEIR I.D.s IF THEY VOTE IN POLLING PLACES.

WE CHECK AND ON RESIDENTIAL ADDRESSES WHEN FOLKS ARE REGISTERING TO VOTE.

LAW IS VERY CLEAR AND WE FOLLOW THE LAW.

THERE IS THIS NARRATIVE OUT THERE THAT THEY ARE POLITICALLY TRYING TO BUILD.

THAT IS GETTING IN THE WAY OF US TRYING TO DO OUR JOBS.

BECAUSE THEY WANT TO BEND AT THE KNEE AND HELP DONALD TRUMP PICK HIS OWN VOTERS.

THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ABOUT AT THE END OF THE DAY.

AND I AM NOT GOING TO STAND FOR IT EVEN IF SENATE PRESIDENT WARREN PETERSON IS WILLING TO BEND THE KNEE.

>> THE CLAIM AND THE REQUEST, THAT YOU AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL HAVE A, QUOTE, PHOBIA OF FAIR AND SECURE ELECTIONS, WHEN THAT CLAIM IS MADE.

HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO THAT?

>> IT'S LAUGHABLE.

IT'S LAUGHABLE WHEN YOU LACK AT THE FACT THAT I WAS THE CHIEF ELECTION OFFICER IN ARIZONA IN 2024, WHEN DONALD TRUMP WON.

ICON CONVENIENTED THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE THAT GAVE HIM THE HE 11 ELECTOR VOTES IN IRRELEVANT A. WE RUN FAIR ELECTIONS.

WHEN I WAS THE COUNTY RECORDER I PRESIDED OVER MY OWN REELECTION LOSS IN 2020.

I RUN FAIR ELECTIONS BECAUSE I FOLLOW THE LAW.

THAT'S WHAT MATTERS HERE.

NOW, IF HE WANTS TO OBFUSCATE AND DETRACT FROM THE FACT THAT HE MAY HAVE SURRENDERED SENSITIVE VOTER DAYS A AND HE WANTS TO SCARE PEOPLE INTO THINKING WE ARE DOING SOMETHING WRONG BECAUSE HE MIGHT HAVE SCREWED UP, THAT'S POLITICAL THEATER.

THAT'S WHAT IS UNACCEPTABLE.

AND HE NEEDS TO CHECK HIMSELF.

>> ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE I THINK SAYS THAT THIS IS KIND OF LAYING THE GROUNDWORK FOR DENYING ELECTION RESULTS, COMING UP IN NOVEMBER.

IS THAT PART OF YOUR THINKING AS WELL?

>> YOU GOTTA GO ALL THE WAY BACK TO FIND THAT PARTICULAR PATTERN OF ELECTION DENIALISM, CONSPIRACY THEORIES, EXECUTIVE ORDERS THREATS OF TAKING OWN LEXES BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND ALL KINDS OF LAWSUITS AND STUFF TO SHOW THAT'S WHAT WE ARE LOOKING A. FROM A POLITICAL PERSPECTIVE, AND NOW, LOOK, THIS IS ME DOING MY JOB.

OF BUT ON THE POLITICAL SIDE OF THINGS, IF THINGS SHAPE UP IN THE FALL THE WAY IT LOOKS LAKE THEY MIGHT SHAPE UP FOR MR.

TRUMP AND HIS POLITICAL, YOU KNOW, ALLIES, THEY ARE GOING TO NEED AN EXCUSE AS TO WHY THEY GOT THEIR PUTS HANDED TO THEM BY THE PERSON PUBLIC.

BUT IT WILL NOT HAPPEN ON MY WATCH BECAUSE WE HAVE THE RECEIPTS FOR THE LAW WE FOLLOWED AND VERY CONFIDENT THAT THIS IS GOING ABSOLUTELY NOWHERE.

AND WE NEED FOR FOCUS ON MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE THE RESOURCES WE NEED IN THE COUNTIES SO THEY CAN RUN THEIR ELECTIONS WELL.

>> LAST QUESTION ON THIS.

IS THERE ANYTHING YOU CAN DO TO TAKE WHAT IS OBVIOUSLY A BIT CAL -- THIS HAS BECOME VERY MUCH POLITICAL.

IT'S A POLITICAL YEAR, DEALING WE LEXES I GET ALL OF THAT.

THERE IS SUCH A POLITICAL THING, ASPECT TO THIS.

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO THE QUIET OF FIRES TO TAMP THINGS DOWN?

>> THIS ISN'T ABOUT QUIETING THE FIRES.

WE HAVE TO HAVE A ROBUST POLITICAL CONVERSATION IN AMERICA DOUR OUR ELECTIONS SEASON THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ABOUT, IT'S NEVER BEEN QUIET AND JEAN TILE AND POLITE.

WE LIKE TO THINK IT IS, BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS THIS, WHEN YOU HAVE THE RECEIPTSES AND TRUTH ON YOUR SIDE AND NOT BACKING WILD CONSPIRACY THEORIES WITH LIES AND INNUENDOS LIKE FOLKS ON MY POLITICAL OPPOSITES ARE, YOU ARE GOING OKAY.

WHEN YOU TALK TO THE VAST MAJORITY OF AMERICANS, THEY UNDERSTAND THAT IN MY ADMINISTRATION, WHICH IS BIPARTISAN, OUR STATE ELECTION DIRECTOR THAT A POINTED IS A REPUBLICAN.

WE HAVE ALWAYS DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB FOLLOWING THE LAW.

THAT'S WHY MOST OF THE LAWSUITS FILED AGAINST US HAVE TOTALLY FAILED BECAUSE WE FOLLOW THE LAW.

THAT'S WHAT'S IMPORTANT HERE NOT THE DISTRACTION.

>> AND THIS IS MY LAST QUESTION.

BRIEFLY IF YOU COULD.

HE WANTS A FEDERAL INVESTIGATION.

HE WANT A PROBE OF ALL OF THIS.

IF YOU HAVE FOLLOWED THE LAW AND DONE EVERYTHING YOU SAID YOU HAVE DONE, WHAT IS THE WORE ANY.

>> WELL, THE WORRY IS THAT WE ARE WASTING TIME AND ENERGY, TAX PAY RESOURCES ON THESE RIDICULOUS CONSPIRACY MILES AN HOUR IS AND WE HAVE ALREADY WASTED ENOUGH AFTER 2020.

HOW MUCH TAXPAYER DOLLARS DO WE HAVE TO USE TO CONTINUE TO CHASE DONALD TRUMP'S GRIEVANCES WE ARE DONE WITH THAT.

WE NEED FOR MOVE ON, MOVE FORWARD AND PROTECT ARIZONA'S VOTERS' PERSONAL DATA ARIZONA SECRETARY OF STATE ADRIEN FONTES, THANK YOU, SIR, WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> A LOS ANGELES JURY FOUND THAT META AND GOOGLE PLATFORMS CONTRIBUTED TO A YOUNG WOMAN'S MENTAL STRUGGLES AND ADDICTION TO SOCIAL MEDIA THE JURY WARDED $6 MILLION IN DAMAGES.

NOW, THAT DOLLAR AMOUNT WAS NOT MUCH TO THE TWO COMPANIES INVOLVED.

BUT THE DECISION MAKES IT A LANDMARK CASE FOR SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTABILITY.

AND TO LEARN MORE REWELCOME THE MANAGER ATTORNEY OF PHILLIPS LAW GUAM.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> SO DESCRIBE THE COURT CASE, DESCRIBE THE JURY VERDICT AND WHY THIS IS -- THIS IS A PRETTY BIG DEAL.

>> IT'S A VERY BIG DEAL.

I HAD A BIG TOBACCO MOMENT FOR SOCIAL MEDIA.

FOR THE LAST TWO DECADES PLUS THE SOCIAL IMMEDIATE COMPANIES HAVE HID BEHIND SECTION 230.

SECTION 230 OF THE COMMUNICATION DECENCY ACT, WHICH PROTECTS CONTENT ON Facebook OR INSTAGRAM OR ANYTHING ELSE.

SO IF OR YOU GO ON AND SAY SOMETHING INCENDIARY YOU CAN'T SUE Facebook.

HOWEVER, FOR THE LAST TWO DECADES PLUS, THEY HAVE BEEN CREATING ALGORITHMS AND A PLATFORM THAT HAS ADDICTED OUR CHILDREN.

AND THIS LAWSUIT SAID THAT.

>> HOW DO THEY KNOW IT HAS ADDICTED OUR CHILDREN?

>> SURE.

YOU KNOW, THAT'S THE BEAUTY OF THE AMERICAN COURT SYSTEM, THAT WE HAVE SOMETHING CALLED DISCOVERY.

AND DURING THIS PROCESS WITH THIS YOUNG WOMAN THAT BROUGHT THIS CASE, THEY WERE ABLE TO RECEIVE DOCUMENTS.

DOCUMENTS FROM Facebook, DOCUMENTS FROM GOOGLE.

YOU KNOW, THEY WOULD HIRE SCIENTISTS TO TRY TO MAKE THE PLATFORM MORE ADDICTIVE TO OUR CHILDREN.

IMAGINE, YOU KNOW, BEING 9, 10, 11 YEARS OLDS AND RECEIVING DEFENSE OF PUSH NOTIFICATIONS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT.

THAT WAS THE THEORY BEHIND THE CASE, THE PLATFORM ITSELF WAS ADDICTIVE AND INTENTIONALLY DESIGNED THIS WAY.

>> $3 MILLION COMPENSATORY $3 MILLION PUNITIVE.

SO, AGAIN, WE ARE TALKING MULTI BILLION DOLLARS COMPANIES, THIS IS A DROP IN THE BUCKET.

BUT THEY HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THIS JURY VERT MEANS FOR ALL OF THESE OTHER CASES OUT THERE WITH SIMILAR ALLEGATIONS AND AND CLAIMS.

>> THIS IS A DROP OF A DROVE FOR META.

4,000 CASES.

>> WOW.

>> RIGHT.

AND SO THE DAY THAT THE VERT CAME OUT, META'S STOCK PRICE FELL ABOUT 5%.

SO IT MATTERED.

IT MEANT SOMETHING.

AND HOPEFULLY THEY TAKE REAL STEPS TO FIX IT.

>> AND IT SOUNDS AS THOUGH, AGAIN FROM, A DISTANCE, IT LOOKS AS THOUGH THIS IS LIKE THE FIRST TIME THAT SOCIAL MEDIA APPS HAVE BEEN DEFINED AS PRODUCTS.

HAVE BEEN DEFINED AS DEFECTIVE PRODUCTS.

DOES THAT MAKE SENSE?

>> IT MAKES SENSE TO ME.

I AM A PERSONAL JURY LAWYER, IT'S IRONIC IN A WAY THAT REALLY TAKING SORTS OF YOUR TYPICAL PERSONAL JAIR NEGLIGENCE SORT OF TACTICS AND TRIAL GOT TO US THIS PLACE, THEY TREAT IT AS A PRODUCTS CLAIM, NOT AS A SPEECH CLAIM OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, AND THAT'S HOW THEY ARE ABLE TO GET AROUND SECTION 230.

AGAIN, THE BEAUTY FILTERS.

I AM OLD ENOUGH TO REMEMBER THAT YOU COULD ACTUALLY STOLE TO THE INSTAGRAM IT WOULD STOP THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN THEY HAVE AN INFINITE FEED YOU CAN KEEP GOING AND GOING AND GOING.

THAT WAS THE IDEA BEHIND IT.

>> YOU MENTIONED BIG TOBACCO THAT'S THE FIRST THING I THOUGHT ABOUT WHEN I HEARD ABOUT ALL OF THIS.

IT FEELS LIKE THE SAME THING WITH BIG TOBACCO IN THE 90, COMPARE THE TWO SITUATIONS.

>> SURE.

WE LIVE FRAY CAPITALIST SOCIETY AND THE ONLY WAY COMPANIES MAKE CHANGE HERE IS IF THEY HAVE TO PULL OUT THEIR POCKETBOOK AND BRINGING JURORS, LIKE US, JURORS THAT ARE PARENTS THAT SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING TO THE CHILDREN EVERY SINGLE DAY, THAT THIS IS WHAT STARTED IN THE '90s, WHAT STARTED WHEN PEOPLE BROUGHT CLAIMS AGAINST A BIG TOBACCO COMPANIES AND SAID THAT YOU ARE ADDICTIVE.

YOU ARE PROVIDING ADDICTIVE PRODUCTS TO OUR POPULOUS, RIGHT?

>> OTHER THAN, YOU KNOW, NO WE ARE NOT.

WHAT KIND OF ARGUMENT DO THESE COMPANIES HAVE?

FIRST THE FREE SPEED.

I THINK YouTube IS SAYING WE ARE NOT A STREAMING SERVICE.

I AM SORRY, WE ARE A STREAMING SERVICE, WE ARE NOT A SOCIAL MEDIA SITE.

I MEAN, DOES IT BECOME A QUESTION OF SEMANTICS?

>> YOU KNOW, LOOK, THEY CLEARLY HAVE A DEFENSE, AGAIN, THAT'S THE BEAUTY OF THE YOU VISUAL ADVERTISE EM.

THEY WILL SAY IT WASN'T JUST -- THIS IS JUST SPEECH.

ANYTHING GOING ON WE ARE PROTECTED BEHIND SECTION 230.

THEY ARE APPEALING.

SAYING THAT THE PRETRIAL RULINGS IN THESE CASES WERE INCORRECT IT SHOULDN'T HAVE GOTTEN TO A JURY VERT, RIGHT IN THAT'S WHAT THEY ARE SAYING, THAT ALLOWING THIS TO BE A PRODUCTS ACCLAIM LIKE JUST SAID IS THE INCORRECT LEGAL PRISM TO LOOK AROUND.

SO IT IS BEING APPEALED.

I DON'T THINK IT WILL GET VERY FAR.

>> WHEN TO COMES TO DISCOVERY IN THE OTHER CASES, 4,000 YOU SAID?

>> 4,000.

>> WHEN IT COMES TO DISCOVERY, A LOT OF STUFF BEING SHUFFLED AROUND HERE TO TRY TO HIDE?

BECAUSE I MEAN, GOODNESS GRACIOUS, THIS WAS INFORMATION FROM THESE COMPANY SAYING THIS IS WHAT IT'S DESIGNED TO DO.

>> YES.

THEY DESIGNED IT THIS WAY.

META'S OWN DOCUMENTS SAY ONE OUT OF EIGHT CHILDREN RECEIVE DIRECT MESSAGES FROM CHILD BRETT PREDATORS.

BY THE TIME THE KIDS ARE 14 YEARS OLD, WE WANT TO HOOK THEM.

AND THESE ARE JUST THEIR DAY.

S, RIGHT?

UNFORTUNATELY AND FORTUNATELY, THAT'S HOW OUR SYSTEM WORKS, WE GET AHOLD OF THESE DOCUMENTS AND WE CAN PRESENT THEM IN A COURT OF LAW.

>> LEGAL SYSTEM OBVIOUSLY WORKS WITH PRECEDENT.

IS THIS PRECEDENT, IS THIS A ONE-OFF CASE?

>> IT'S NEITHER PRECEDENTS NOR A ONE-OFF CASE, THIS WAS TREATED AS A PERSONAL INJURY CASE, IT'S NOT LIKE THE FREQUENT PERSON IF A BROUGHT A CLAIM I COULDN'T USE THIS CASE TO PROVE MY DAMAGES.

I WOULD HAVE TO START FROM THE BEGINNING.

IT'S A BIG SHOT ACROSS THE BOW, GOOGLE AND MED A HAVE TO DO MATH.

SIX MILL IS COUNSEL 6 MILLION TIMES 4,000 THAT'S A BIG NUMBER.

>> THE PRESS DENT IN' INDIVIDUAL INJURY CASE DOESN'T TRANSCEND TO OTHER CASES EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE SIMILAR?

>> IT DOES NOT, KNOW.

THERE COULD BE SOME EFFICIENCIES INVOLVED THAT WE COULD SKIP CERTAIN DISCOVERY AND RULINGS BUT EVERY CASE IS ITS OWN CASE AND THAT HEIGHTENS THE ISSUE FOR META AND GOING.

THEY HAVE TO PAY THEIR ATTORNEYS FOR EVERY SINGLE CASE, THEY THEY CAN'T JUST HIDE BEHIND A ONE-OFF DEFENSE.

>> IT NOTHING ELSE IT SHOWS WHAT'S POSSIBLE?

>> YES.

>> LAST QUESTION.

WHAT DO WE TAKE FROM THIS?

>> WE TAKE THAT OUR JUDICIAL SYSTEM IS WORK, AND IT TAKES GUTS AND IT TAKES LAWYERS AND TAKES FAMILY OF THIS YOUNG WOMAN TO STEP UP AND FIGHT THIS HUGE CORPORATION TO STAND UP AND SAY, WHAT YOU ARE DOING TO OUR CHILDREN IS NOT OKAY.

AT THE EN OF THE DAY WE HAVE IT TAKE ACTION AND IF THE GOVERNMENT IS NOT GOING TO, LAWYERS AND FAMILIES WILL.

>> THANK YOU, AGAIN, PHILLIPS LAW GROUP, GOOD IT WAS YOU HERE, THANKS FOR JOINING US.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

♪♪ MUSIC PLAYING ♪♪ >> THE NONPROFIT KID IN THE CORNER HOPES TO SHOOTER THE STIGMA SURROUNDING MENTAL ILLNESS AND SUICIDE IN YOUNG PEOPLE.

THE ORGANIZATION GOES IN TO VALLEY SCHOOLS TO EDUCATE, SPREAD AWARENESS AND CONNECT KIDS IT THEIR COMMUNITY.

FRANCINE SUMNER IS THE FOUNDER AND JOINS US RIGHT.

>> THANKS TO HAVING ME.

>> GIVE ME A BEST DEFINITION OF KID IN THE CORNER.

>> IT'S A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION OUT TO SHOOTER STIGMA SURROUNDING MENTAL ILLNESS AND SUPPORT THE KID IN THE CORNER WHOEVER THAT MAY BE, RIGHT?

WHO IS THE KID IN THE CORNER?

WE ARE ALL IN THE KIT IN THE CORNER WE ALL HAVE BEEN.

>> I WAS GOING TO SAY WHERE DID THE NAME COME FROM?

>> IT'S BASICALLY EVERYBODY'S STRUGGLES, EVERYBODY STRUGGLES SILENTLY.

KIDS DON'T SPEAK UP.

THEY DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE ASKING FOR HELP.

IT'S -- MENTAL HEALTH IS STIGMATIZED BUT NOT PHYSICAL HEALTH.

WE ARE OUT TO NORMALIZE THE TWO.

>> WHEN YOU MENTIONED THE STIGMA ATTACHED HERE WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU?

>> IT MEANS SHAME AND EMBARRASSMENT.

IT MEANS A SOCIETY THAT VIEWS MEANT THE HEALTH PEOPLE THAT ARE STRUGGLING WITH MENTAL HEALTH, AS WEAK, AND SO WHAT HAPPENS IS WE WIND UP INTERNALIZE THAT GO OURSELVES, AND WE THINK IF WE ARE STRUGGLING WITH SOME TYPE OF MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE, THAT WE ARE WEAK, WE SHOULD BE ABLE GET OVER IT OURSELVES, MAYBE IT'S ALL IN OUR MINDS, THAT IS STIGMA.

>> THIS IS FOURTH THROUGH 12TH GRADERS, TALKING TO THEM JUST SIMPLY ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH.

>> RIGHT.

>> WITH PEER SUPPORT SPO*RT AND OTHER THINGS, AND SERVICES, OFFERED, THESE THINGS AS WELL?

>> RIGHT.

SO WE GO INTO SCHOOLS, WE HAVE A PROGRAM THAT'S A THREE-DAY PROGRAM IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS CALLED THE PENNY PLEDGE PROGRAM.

AND THE IDEA IS 1 PENNY ALONE DOESN'T MEAN MUCH, BUT COLLECTIVELY, THEY ADD UP AND THEY CAN CHANGE CULTURE, CHANGE BEHAVIORS, SO AT THE END OF THE PROGRAM, KIDS PLEDGE TO REACH IT OUT A KID IN THE CORNER, PLEDGE TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR OWN MENTAL HE HAD AND PLEDGE TO BE A SAFE AND CARING PERSON FOR OTHERS AND EACH PART OF THAT PLEDGE IS THE PROGRAM ON EACH DAY.

THE FIRST DAY WE LEARN ABOUT HOW TO REACH OUT TO THE KID IN THE CORNER OF.

HOW TO SUPPORT SOMEBODY, HOW TO HAVE A CONVERSATION.

SECOND DAY WE LEARN ABOUT HOW TO TAKE CARE YOU CARE OF OF OUR MEANT THE HEALTH AND CREATE SELF CARE PLANS AND HOW TO ASSIST SOMEBODY THAT IS STRUGGLING.

THE HOTLINES AND RE,S SO, WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TATTLING AND ADVOCATING.

THINGS LIKE.

>> THESE CAN BE SENSITIVE TOPICS AND SUBJECTS HOW DO YOU GET THE POINT ACROSS WITHOUT GETTING IT ACROSS IN THE WRONG WAY?

>> IT'S VERY, VERY FOUNDATIONAL.

WE MOVE THE DESKS AWAY, WE SIT AROUND IN A CIRCLE.

WE ARE OUT OF THE ACADEMIC ENVIRONMENT.

AND WE JUST TALK ABOUT WHAT DOES DEPRESSION FEEL LIKE?

DOES ANYBODY KNOW WHAT IT IS AND WHAT IT FEELS LIKE?

WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU ARE DEPRESSED?

WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU HAVE THOSE FEELINGS AND WE START TO NORMALIZE COLDS AND SAD AND BAD DAYS AND THEN THERE'S BRONCHITIS AND SEVERE MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS.

IT'S A SPECTRUM.

WHAT DO WE DO JUST WHEN WE ARE HAVING OUR SAD EXAMINE BAD DAYS AND HOW DO WE KNOW WHEN IT'S TIME TO GET HELP.

>> I NOTICED THERE WAS SOMETHING CALLED CONTAGIOUS KINDNESS THAT IS PROMOTED.

WHAT'S THAT ALL ABOUT?

>> CONTAGIOUS KINDNESS, ZACHARY, MY SON, WAS EXTREMELY KIND.

HE WAS ONE OF THOSE VERY EMPATHETIC PEOPLE.

AND KINDNESS LEADS TO CONNECTION.

AND IT MATTERS.

SO WE COME FROM A PLACE OF KINDNESS AS OPPOSED TO -- WE DO A LOT OF WHAT TO DO VERSE WHAT IS NOT TO DO.

WE DON'T TALK ABOUT BULLYING AND THINGS LIKE THAT, WE TALK ABOUT, KIND FIRST TO OURSELVES, AND THEN TO OTHERS.

>> THAT'S INTERESTING ABOUT TALKING ABOUT NOT NECESSARILY TALKING ABOUT WHAT NOT TO DO.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> THAT'S KIND OF -- THAT'S -- YOU HEAR A LOT ABOUT ANTI-THIS AND THAT.

THIS IS PRO THIS AND, PRO THAT.

>> PRO THIS AND PRO THAT, WE ARE GIVING KIDS THE TOOLS, SKILLS THINK LANGUAGE, RESOURCES THEY NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL TODAY WITH THEIR MENTAL HEALTH.

>> AND YOU MENTIONED ZACH, TALK TO US ABOUT ZACH.

AS MUCH AS YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE DOING SO.

>> YEAH.

ZACHARY, OH, ZACHARY WAS MY YOUNGEST.

HE TOOK HIS LIFE IN A VERY MANIC MOMENT.

HE WAS MISDIAGNOSED ON THE WRONG MEDICATION.

AND THAT WAS ALL RELATED TO STIGMA.

HE DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO TAKE CARE I HAVE HIMSELF.

HIS FRIENDS DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO SUPPORT HIM.

WE DIDN'T KNOW WHERE THE HOTLINES AND RESOURCES WERE AND WE WERE CONSTANTLY CHASING THE TAIL OF STIGMA FOR SIX MONTHS.

>> YEAH.

THE SERVICES WHEN YOU LOOK BACK, THE SERVICES THAT WOULD HAVE HELPED, COULD HAVE HELPED, WERE THEY THERE?

OR WERE THEY JUST NOT PROMOTED ENOUGH?

>> THEY WERE NOT PROMOTED ENOUGH.

THERE ARE REALLY FABULOUS SERVICES HERE IN ARIZONA.

TAKE TEEN LIFELINE FOR INSTANCE, RIGHT.

YOUTH TALK TO YOUTH BEFORE THEY TALK TO ADULTS.

SO IF WE GO IN AND EXPLAIN TO YOUTH, HOW TO USE TEEN LIFELINE, WHY IT'S NOT SCARY, WHY THEY CAN TRUST THESE PEERS, WHAT THE OUTCOMES WILL BE THE FACT THAT THEY CAN TEXT, DON'T HAVE TO CALL.

WHAT THE HOURS -- THE HOURS THEY ARE OPENING.

IT GIVES KIDS A PATH FORWARD.

SOMEWHERE TO GO WITH WHAT THEY ARE DOING AND WHAT THEY ARE FEELING.

>> WHAT KIND OF REACTION ARE YOU GETTING FROM THE KIDS?

WHAT KIND OF REACTION ARE YOU GETTING FROM THEIR PARENTS?

>> WE HAVE AMAZING OUTCOMES.

WE HAVE FABULOUS, FABULOUS METRICS WHEN WE ARE DONE KIDS TAKE A SURVEY.

I HAVE KIDS THAT WE HAVE SAVED AND CHANGED LIVES.

I HAVE PARENTS THAT COME TO ME AND SAY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BRINGING THIS TO OUR ATTENTION AND TO OUR KIDS ATTENTION.

WE HAVE HAD CONVERSATIONS AT HOME AND NOW WE ARE ABLE TO GET HELP.

>> SOUNDS LIKE THE MESSAGE IS IT'S OKAY TO NOT BE OKAY.

>> THAT'S IT.

>> YEAH.

AND THAT, WHAT, BETTER DAYS ARE AHEAD?

>> EXACTLY.

TOMORROW NEEDS YOU.

>> EXACTLY.

>> TOMORROW NEEDS.

>> YOU WHERE DO YOU LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS PROGRAM?

>> AT OUR WEBSITE KIDIN THECORNER.ORG.

>> WHERE DO YOU GO FROM HERE?

WHAT'S NEXT AS FAR AS -- IS IT JUST BASICALLY EXPANDING THE PROGRAM OR ARE YOU -- >> WEREK PANTING THE PROGRAM TRYING TO REACH AS MANY YOUTH ACROSS ARIZONA BEFORE WE GO BEYOND ARIZONA AND WHO KNOWS.

>> IS THERE A QUESTION OF GETTING INTO THE COOLS WITH THIS?

>> YES.

LAST SEMESTER WE HIT 5,000 YOUTH.

SOME SCHOOLS ARE SO OPEN TO IT AND SOME SCHOOLS NOT SO MUCH.

WE GO WHERE WE CAN AND DON'T TRUE TRY AND THE PROGRAM SPEAKS FOR ITSELF.

>> IT IS PRESENTED IN SCHOOLS BUT THE SCHOOLS TO AGREE TO IT.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

ONCE AGAIN, KID IN THE CORNER WEBSITE.

>> WWW.KIDINTHECORNER.ORG.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU FRANCINE, AND CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR SUCCESS AND CONTINUES SUCCESS.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> AND THANKS FOR SHARING YOUR STORY.

>> I APPRECIATE YOU.

>> THAT'S IT FOR NOW, I AM TED SIMONS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US, YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

♪♪ MUSIC PLAYING ♪♪ ♪♪ MUSIC PLAYING ♪♪