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Aug. 19, 2026 ~ Fox News Correspondent Eben Brown joins Kevin Dietz to discuss the growing legal battle facing Meta as several states push for stronger protections for children on Instagram and Facebook.
OAKLAND, CALIF. ~ Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, is being accused by 29 states for intentionally designing their apps to hook children despite marketing them as safe, and harvest data without parental consent, violating the federal Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act.
The trial for the case, which was brought to light in 2023, kicked off Tuesday and is being led by state attorneys general from California, Colorado, Kentucky and New Jersey. The landmark case could set a precedent for how social media companies are held accountable in the future.
Meta has denied any wrongdoing as the states could seek up to $200 billion in damages. If Meta loses, the company could be forced to change its algorithm and delete personal data of minors. Meta has already lost two similar yet smaller cases.
Former Facebook engineering director-turned-whistleblower Arturo Béjar took the stand Tuesday, testifying that Meta prioritized quickness over safety. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is expected to testify at some point during the trial.
The trial is expected to last for at least six weeks, as District Court Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers will make the ruling after the eight-person jury’s decision.
