Opening statements began on Tuesday in a landmark federal trial in Oakland, California, where Meta Platforms is being sued over alleged harms to children. The case, overseen by U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, could result in a financial penalty of up to US$1.4 trillion and force changes to the way Facebook and Instagram operate.
Who is suing and why
Attorneys general from California, Colorado, Kentucky and New Jersey are leading the claim. They join 25 other states that will go to trial later, after a total of 29 states filed lawsuits against the tech giant in 2023. In addition to the federal action, Meta is facing separate lawsuits in state courts.
The plaintiffs allege that Meta knowingly designed features that addict children, thereby contributing to a youth mental‑health crisis. They also contend that the company routinely collects data on children under 13 without parental consent, in breach of federal law.
Opening arguments
Deputy Attorney General Megan O’Neill of the California Department of Justice outlined the case for the jury. She said Meta had detailed knowledge of children’s developing brains and how they respond to rewards and social feedback. “You’re going to hear that Meta knew a lot about kids’ brains,” O’Neill told jurors. She also referenced an internal study titled “The young ones are the best ones,” adding that for Meta, “kids are the product.”
Meta’s defence
In a written statement the company said it is “proud of our record in protecting teens on our platforms and the amount of effort that we’ve put into developing protections over the years, even before these cases were ever filed, and continuing to the present day.” Meta said it looks forward to presenting those facts to the judge and jury.
Trial logistics and potential outcome
Judge Gonzalez Rogers, appointed by President Barack Obama in 2011, has presided over high‑profile tech disputes, including Elon Musk’s lawsuit against OpenAI and Epic Games’ challenge to Apple’s App Store. The proceedings are expected to last six weeks and will feature testimony from Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, other executives and former employees.
If the jury finds against Meta, the court will have broad discretion in setting any monetary award. Legal experts caution that a figure close to the maximum $1.4 trillion is unlikely, even though the law permits a wide range.
Broader context
The case adds to a growing wave of litigation targeting social‑media firms such as Google’s YouTube, TikTok and Snap. Plaintiffs across the United States argue that these platforms harm young users, collect data illegally and are deliberately engineered to be addictive.
First reported by the source report.