Meta Faces Federal Child Safety Trial by 29 State AGs
Original: Meta’s Big Reckoning Is Here
Why This Matters
The outcome could force structural changes to Facebook and Instagram's core design features affecting hundreds of millions of users.
Meta is defending itself in a federal civil trial in Oakland, California, brought by 29 state attorneys general alleging COPPA violations and deceptive practices on Facebook and Instagram. This follows a $940 million New Mexico judgment and a prior California liability ruling in spring 2026.
Meta is currently in a federal civil trial at the US District Court for the Northern District of California, facing claims from 29 state attorneys general across states including California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey. The plaintiffs allege Meta violated COPPA — the federal Children's Online Privacy Protection Act — by collecting personal data from children under 13 without parental consent. Lead AGs also accuse Meta of making deceptive statements about how its apps operate.
This trial follows two major prior rulings: an earlier California jury verdict finding Meta and YouTube liable for harming a young user through specific design features, and a New Mexico judgment ordering Meta to pay over $940 million for causing psychological harm to children.
In opening arguments, California Deputy AG Megan O'Neill alleged Meta deliberately engineered features to hook children and harvest their data. Meta lead attorney Paul Schmidt countered by citing dozens of safety features the company has implemented and argued that some teens simply 'struggle to manage their time.'
Former Meta employee and key witness Arturo Bejar testified that CEO Mark Zuckerberg did not prioritize youth safety, describing a company culture where growth-focused features could be tested without meaningful oversight. Meta denies all core allegations and claims Section 230 protections shield it from liability.