Meta faces multistate child-harm trial in Oakland

Opening arguments are underway in a pivotal federal trial in Oakland, California, where Meta Platforms faces allegations that its social media products have harmed children and teens. The case has been brought by a coalition of 29 state attorneys general and centers on the design and operation of Facebook and Instagram.

This phase of the proceedings is being argued by attorneys representing California, Colorado, Kentucky and New Jersey on behalf of the broader coalition. The trial is expected to span several weeks under the oversight of U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers.

The states allege that Meta knowingly designed features intended to hook young users and promote addictive behavior among children and teens on its platforms. They argue that these design choices contributed to a broader youth mental health crisis by encouraging prolonged and repeated use.

Plaintiffs also claim that Meta collected personal data from users under 13 years old without obtaining parental consent. These practices are alleged to violate the federal Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) as well as various state consumer protection laws.

In public statements around the start of trial, Kentucky’s attorney general described the case as a major consumer protection effort and accused Meta of concealing what it knew about harms to young people. The states contend that the company prioritized profit over safety when developing and deploying product features.

Court filings and arguments have highlighted the potentially vast financial exposure Meta could face if the states prevail. Meta’s attorneys have indicated that, depending on how penalties are calculated, total damages could reach as high as $1.4 trillion.

Lawyers for the states, however, have told the court that a lower figure, around $200 billion, is a more realistic estimate of potential monetary remedies. These discussions are taking place alongside requests for broad changes to Meta’s conduct if violations are found.

Meta disputes the allegations from the state attorneys general and has moved to frame the case as overreaching. The company has stated that the coalition’s claims are unsubstantiated and that the financial demands being discussed are vastly disproportionate to the issues at stake.

Meta has also said it will present evidence of its work on teen safety to the judge and jury as the trial proceeds. Testimony from top leadership is expected to be a key element of the proceedings, with Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and other current or former executives and employees slated to appear as witnesses.

The outcome of the case could shape how large technology platforms design products for younger users and handle children’s data. For now, the focus in Oakland is on the states’ opening presentation of their claims and Meta’s initial efforts to rebut them in court.