OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA — A jury trial involving Meta began on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, in federal court in Oakland, California. State attorneys general allege the company violated the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) and designed addictive features for young users, seeking up to $1.4 trillion in penalties.

The trial is presided over by U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers. California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey are the four states participating in the current trial phase. California Attorney General Rob Bonta is co-leading the trial against Meta.

The lawsuit was filed in 2023 by a coalition of state attorneys general. The states allege Meta violated COPPA by collecting data from children under 13 without parental consent. They also allege Meta designed features such as infinite scroll, autoplay, like counts, and recommendation algorithms to increase time spent on platforms by young users.

Bonta said Meta designed a dangerous product for young users, knew it to be dangerous, and then lied to children, families, and the community about how dangerous it was. New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport said the company is deceiving consumers about Facebook and Instagram's dangers.

The states are demanding Meta remove image filters that alter appearance and prohibit ephemeral posts for young users. Lawyers for the states stated that $200 billion is a more likely amount for penalties than $1.4 trillion. The states are seeking up to $1.4 trillion in penalties from Meta.

Meta disclosed in a legal filing that the $1.4 trillion penalty figure is almost equal to its entire market capitalization. Meta's market value is approximately $1.5 trillion. Meta reported a profit decline in July 2026, partly due to $2.4 billion in legal expenses.

Meta internal research linked social comparison on Instagram to increased loneliness, worse body image, and negative mood. Meta launched teen accounts on Instagram in 2024, which are private by default and include messaging restrictions and parental controls. Meta removed 36 million pieces of child sexual exploitation content from Facebook and Instagram in 2025.

Judge Gonzalez Rogers opted for an advisory jury, where jurors deliver opinions on specific questions to inform the judge's ruling. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Instagram chief Adam Mosseri are expected to testify in the trial. Meta lost a bid to dismiss the states' claims in the California case in late June 2026.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected Meta's attempt to postpone the California trial. Judge Bryan Biedscheid denied Meta's motion to dismiss the New Mexico case under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez is working with state lawmakers to draft bills strengthening consumer protections and child safety online.

Why It Matters

The scale of the penalties sought reflects the severity of the allegations regarding youth safety and data privacy. The $1.4 trillion figure represents nearly the entire market value of Meta. The case tests the application of COPPA to modern social media features and algorithmic design.

The outcome could influence how technology companies design products for younger users. The advisory jury structure means the judge will make the final legal determinations based on the jurors' factual findings. The trial proceeds as other states consider separate legal actions and legislative measures.

Timeline

The lawsuit was filed in 2023 by a coalition of state attorneys general. Meta launched teen accounts on Instagram in 2024, which are private by default and include messaging restrictions and parental controls. On September 19, 2025, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit issued a publication in Trump v. United States District Court for the Northern District of California, San Francisco. Meta removed 36 million pieces of child sexual exploitation content from Facebook and Instagram in 2025.

On March 13, 2026, the Supreme Court of Alabama issued a notice regarding Michael Jerome Jennings v. Christopher Smith, Justin Gable, Jeremy Brooks, and the City of Childersburg. Meta lost a bid to dismiss the states' claims in the California case in late June 2026. Meta reported a profit decline in July 2026, partly due to $2.4 billion in legal expenses.

What's New

Additional reporting includes statements from the lawsuit complaint that Meta has harnessed powerful and unprecedented technologies to entice, engage, and ultimately ensnare youth and teens. The complaint further stated that its motive is profit, and in seeking to maximize its financial gains. California Attorney General Rob Bonta said Meta designed a dangerous product for young users, knew it to be dangerous, and then lied to children, families, and the community about how dangerous it was.

New Jersey Attorney General Davenport said they are putting the profits over the health of a generation of young people. She also stated that they allege in their complaint, and what they are prepared to prove at trial, is that Meta is deceiving consumers about Facebook and Instagram's dangers. A Meta spokesperson responded that the attorneys general offer no proof anyone in their states was misled, claim benign features like having an additional Instagram account somehow harmed their residents, and attempt to penalize Meta for industry-wide challenges like age verification. The Federal Trade Commission amended the Children's Online Privacy Protection Rule in April 2025 to update and clarify provisions in response to changes in technology and online practices.

How Sources Differ

Sources differ on the specifics of children online privacy protection. Federalregister.gov states that the Federal Trade Commission amended the Children's Online Privacy Protection Rule in April 2025 to update and clarify provisions in response to changes in technology and online practices. The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California complaint states that the states allege Meta violated the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) by collecting data from children under 13 without parental consent.