Cybersecurity Policy Report, Summary Judgment Denial in Meta Case Applauded by California AG, (Jul 6, 2026)
By Tony Foley
California Attorney General Rob Bonta (D.) lauded a federal district court in California last week after it denied Meta Platforms, Inc.’s motion for summary judgment in a lawsuit brought by a group of state AGs alleging that the company designed Facebook and Instagram to keep children engaged on the platforms for increasing periods of time.
The lawsuit, which is scheduled for trial next month in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, maintains that Meta designed and deployed harmful features on Facebook and Instagram that addict children and teenagers to their “severe mental and physical detriment” while misleading the public regarding the presence and severity of the risks, AG Bonta noted in a press release.
In its order denying Meta’s motion, which may be accessed from the press release, the court agreed with the AGs that Meta did not obtain parental consent consistent with requirements under the federal Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).
”One of my most important jobs as Attorney General is to protect our children from harm. As our lawsuit alleges, Meta is prioritizing profits over the safety of children and violating consumer protection laws left and right,” said AG Bonta. “We have secured a critical win that blocks Meta’s attempt to toss out our case and helps pave the way to hold the tech giant accountable in California for its role in fueling the mental health crisis of American children. California is proud to help lead this nationwide reckoning, and we look forward to holding Meta fully accountable at trial in August.”
Jury selection is scheduled to begin on Aug. 12, and opening statements are slated for Aug. 18.
News: StateLegislation FederalLegislation LitigationEnforcement DataPrivacy