Meta heads to court over claims it harms children

A landmark trial over allegations that Meta Platforms harms children is set to begin Aug. 18 in California. Twenty-nine state attorneys general, including those from California, Colorado, New Jersey and Kentucky, are suing Meta claiming it fostered addictive behavior in teens and children. They argue Meta violated federal and state laws, including the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) and consumer protection statutes. Analysts say the outcome could reshape popular apps. Reported estimates of penalties range up to $1.4 trillion, near Meta’s $1.5 trillion market cap, though officials said it could be closer to $200 billion. Meta denies wrongdoing and points to Teen Accounts with built-in protections.