A coalition of four U.S. states (California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey) is suing Meta over features designed to be addictive and specifically targeting young users on Facebook and Instagram. The plaintiffs are seeking up to $1.4 trillion in civil penalties, equivalent to Meta’s entire market capitalization of approximately $1.5 trillion. Twenty-nine states have filed federal claims under the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, with over 40 states participating in consolidated federal litigation. In March 2026, a New Mexico jury already found Meta liable, resulting in total payments of $942 million. The trial, presided over by Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers in Oakland, California, could also mandate fundamental changes to platform features.
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