New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport today issued a statement after a court fully denied an attempt by Meta Platforms, Inc., to obtain summary judgment and cleared the way for the case brought by New Jersey and attorneys general nationwide to proceed to trial.
The lawsuit, which is currently set for trial in August 2026 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, alleges that the company designed Facebook and Instagram to maximize profits while ensnaring children for longer and longer periods of time on the social media platforms. As the lawsuit asserts, Meta designed and deployed harmful features on its platforms, addicting children and teens to their severe mental and physical detriment while misleading the public regarding these risks.
In its decision, the federal district court rejected Meta’s motion for summary judgment, allowing the claims brought by New Jersey and the bipartisan coalition of attorneys general to proceed to trial. The court also agreed with New Jersey that Meta did not obtain parental consent in a manner sufficient to satisfy the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), a federal law that protects the online privacy of children under 13 years old.
“We are thrilled that a federal district court has ruled that our case against Meta will proceed to trial,” said Attorney General Davenport. “For years, Meta has failed to protect kids on Facebook and Instagram, endangering their mental health while profiting at their expense. Our office is proud to co-lead this case against Meta on behalf of a bipartisan coalition of state AGs, and we look forward to proving our case against Meta in court.”
In 2023, the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General sued Meta, alleging that the company designed and deployed harmful features on Instagram and Facebook to addict children and teens. The lawsuit alleges that Meta violated federal and state laws, including the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) and the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act.
The trial in this case is scheduled to start in August. Jury selection starts on August 12, and opening statements are on August 18 in Oakland, California.
