Federal trial of Meta by 29 states opens in Oakland on August 18, 2026

A landmark federal trial pitting 29 state attorneys general against Meta Platforms began on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, in Oakland, California, with opening arguments that framed a starkly different narrative of the company's intent and impact on young users. The states allege Meta deliberately designed Facebook and Instagram to be addictive to children and knowingly violated child privacy laws, while the company countered that the claims are exaggerated and unsupported by science.

The coalition, led by California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey, accuses Meta of deceptive and unfair business practices, arguing the company harnessed powerful technologies to exploit the developing brains of young people to maximize profit. Deputy California Attorney General Megan O'Neill told the jury the case centers on whether Meta misled the public about risks to children and violated the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act by collecting data from users under 13 without parental consent. She stated the states' evidence would rely heavily on Meta's own internal research and communications, which she said show the company was aware of harms but chose to prioritize engagement.