AG Brown vows to hold Meta accountable as federal trial over children’s safety begins

Attorney General Nick Brown issued a statement at the start of a trial in federal court against Meta, accusing the social media company of curating Facebook and Instagram to encourage compulsive use among children and teens while misleading parents about safety.

The trial is being litigated by counsel from the attorneys general of four states, while 25 other states, including Washington, have joined the coalition, the Washington State Office of the Attorney General announced.

The states alleged that Meta knowingly designed harmful features into Facebook and Instagram to drive compulsive use of the platforms by children and teens, while also falsely telling the public that the platforms were safe for young users.

“People all over our state are concerned about social media, particularly its effects on children,” Brown said. “We will continue to work to ensure social media companies like Meta are doing everything they’re required to do to protect our kids.”

Meta failed in multiple attempts to block the trial

The coalition filed suit against Meta in October 2023 after a multi-year nationwide investigation. The states alleged that Meta deliberately designed its platforms to exploit young users’ vulnerabilities, foster compulsive use, and maximize the time younger people spend on Meta platforms.

The attorneys general also alleged that Meta illegally collected personal information from children under 13 without parents’ consent, in violation of the federal Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act.

The AG’s Office noted that Meta has made several attempts to prevent the case from reaching trial. In 2025, the court rejected Meta’s attempt to dismiss key parts of the case, allowing claims about allegedly addictive platform design and Meta’s failure to warn users and parents about known risks to move forward.

After the court rejected Meta’s motion for summary judgment in June, Meta asked the district court and the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to stay the trial. Both courts rejected the request, allowing the attorneys general to present the case at trial.

The trial began before U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California and is expected to last six to eight weeks.

The states have asked the court to hold Meta accountable, order it to cease unlawful practices, and require the company to follow laws designed to protect children and consumers. The states are also seeking monetary penalties and other forms of relief under federal and state law.

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