A major antitrust trial against Meta commenced in Oakland, California this week, with California and 28 other US states alleging the company violated child privacy laws and consumer protection statutes. Prosecutors characterized Meta’s business model as operating through four stages: attracting users, maintaining engagement, collecting personal data, and concealing practices from public scrutiny. The lawsuit centers on claims that Meta collected data on children under 13 without parental consent and deliberately designed addictive products to maximize child usage.
If found liable, Meta could face damages potentially reaching $200 billion, equivalent to the company’s 2025 annual revenue. Beyond financial penalties, the states are seeking court orders requiring Meta to redesign its platforms to enhance child safety protections, which could fundamentally alter the company’s operational structure. The trial is projected to last six to eight weeks, with the jury providing advisory recommendations to Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, who will determine the final verdict and any damages awarded.
During opening statements, Meta’s legal representatives denied the allegations and argued the company had implemented safety tools and prohibited accounts for users under 13. A key witness during the trial’s first week was Arturo Béjar, a former Meta safety engineer who testified about his concerns regarding child protection mechanisms. Béjar described sending data to CEO Mark Zuckerberg showing that 51 percent of Instagram teen users experienced harmful content within a seven-day period, with only 0.02 percent of such content being removed. He characterized Meta’s approach to child safety as a “don’t ask, don’t tell” strategy.
This trial represents one in a series of legal challenges Meta has faced. The company previously lost two other cases that proceeded to trial in March, resulting in a nearly $1 billion judgment to New Mexico and a $4 million judgment to an individual plaintiff. Meta continues to face thousands of additional lawsuits from families, school districts, and state attorneys general related to similar allegations.
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