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.
In-house legal teams should review vendor agreements with social media, advertising, and analytics providers to confirm that data processing clauses address collection and use of data from minors, including explicit parental-consent and age-verification requirements. Privacy policies and terms of service should be checked for overstatements about platform safety or omissions about known risks of excessive use, given the allegations that Meta misled users and families. Teams should also update consumer-facing agreements to incorporate COPPA-compliant parental consent, data minimization, and regulatory-action termination rights, and review indemnification and liability allocation clauses to protect against COPPA and consumer-protection claims.
Entity
Meta Platforms, Inc.
Industry
Social MediaOfficial Press Release
https://www.njoag.gov/attorney-general-davenport-presses-case-against-meta-as-historic-trial-begins/
https://www.njoag.gov/ag-platkin-41-other-attorneys-general-sue-meta-for-harms-to-youth-from-instagram-facebook/
https://www.njoag.gov/ahead-of-meta-trial-attorney-general-davenport-secures-critical-win/
New Jersey Attorney General Enforcement Page
https://www.njoag.gov/about/divisions-and-offices/division-of-consumer-affairs/
"Meta Platforms, Inc."
"illegally collected and used the data of children under the age of 13 who used its platforms"
"designed and deployed harmful features on Instagram and Facebook that drive excessive use by children and teens to their mental and physical detriment"
"lied to users, their families, and the public about the safety of its platforms"
"Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA)"
"New Jersey Consumer Protection Act"
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.
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.
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.