A bipartisan coalition of state attorneys general began trial against Meta Platforms, Inc., alleging the company knowingly designed addictive features on Facebook and Instagram that harm children and teens, deceived parents about platform safety, and illegally collected personal information from children under 13 without parental consent in violation of COPPA. The states seek monetary penalties, an injunction to stop unlawful practices, and other relief. The trial is being litigated in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.
The states are seeking monetary penalties, an injunction to stop Meta's unlawful practices, and other relief to require the company to comply with laws protecting children and consumers.
In-house legal teams should review their vendor agreements with social media platforms and technology providers to ensure compliance with COPPA and state consumer protection laws, particularly clauses related to data collection from minors, parental consent mechanisms, and representations about platform safety. They should also audit their own user agreements and product design for dark patterns or addictive features that could be deemed deceptive. Key clauses to examine include data processing agreements, privacy policies, consent clauses, warranties regarding compliance with children's privacy laws, and indemnification provisions. Additionally, any agreements with Meta or similar platforms should be scrutinized for representations about user safety and the absence of harmful design features.
Entity
Meta Platforms, Inc.
Industry
Social Media"Meta"
"illegally collected personal information from children under 13 without their parents’ consent"
"knowingly designed and deployed harmful features on Facebook and Instagram that drive compulsive use"
"falsely assuring parents and the public that its platforms were safe for young users"
"Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act"
"bipartisan coalition of attorneys general"
A bipartisan coalition of state attorneys general led by New Jersey, California, Colorado, and Kentucky is taking Meta Platforms, Inc. to trial, alleging that Meta designed addictive features on Instagram and Facebook that harm minors' mental health, illegally collected data from children under 13 without the required protections under COPPA, and misled users about platform safety. Opening arguments begin August 18, 2026, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. No monetary penalty or final remedy has yet been imposed.
Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones announced a court ruling denying Meta Platforms, Inc.'s motion for summary judgment in a lawsuit alleging Meta designed Facebook and Instagram to addict children and misled parents. The court allowed claims under COPPA and the Virginia Consumer Protection Act to proceed to trial, scheduled for August 2026.
The Virginia Attorney General, as part of a multistate coalition, secured a court ruling allowing their case against Meta to proceed to trial. The case alleges that Meta designed and deployed harmful features on its platforms that addict children and teens, causing severe mental and physical detriment. The trial is scheduled for August.
New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport and the Bureau of Securities issued a public warning to state residents about fraudulent investment schemes proliferating on Meta-owned platforms including Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. The alert details common scam tactics such as pump-and-dump schemes, confidence scams, and fraudulent cryptocurrency offerings, and provides tips for residents to avoid victimization. No enforcement action against any entity was announced in this release.
$1.4B
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton secured a record-setting $1.4 billion settlement with Meta for unlawfully capturing and using the biometric data of millions of Texans, marking one of the largest privacy settlements in U.S. history.
Attorney General William Tong led a bipartisan coalition of 42 attorneys general in urging Meta Platforms to protect users from fraudulent investment ads on Facebook that facilitate pump-and-dump schemes, causing significant financial losses. The coalition calls for enhanced ad review processes, including human review for investment ads, and suggests ceasing investment ads if scams cannot be curbed.