Sandego.net – Meta is back in the courtroom for what could be its most consequential legal fight over youth safety and addiction. In opening statements delivered Tuesday in federal court in Oakland, a lawyer for a coalition of state attorneys general argued that the company’s business model depends on hooking young users and monetizing their data and attention.
Both sides laid out their cases to jurors. The states called their first witness, former engineering director and whistleblower Arturo Béjar, who testified that the firm prioritized speed and product launches over user safety. Despite his role overseeing safety efforts, he said he struggled to shield his teenage daughter from inappropriate content and stranger solicitations on Instagram.
Opening Arguments and Internal Culture
Béjar is scheduled to return to the stand Wednesday. California Attorney General Rob Bonta, speaking at a post-trial press conference, quoted the company’s long-ago motto: “move fast and break things.” “Unfortunately, the thing that was broken here was the mental health of kids,” Bonta said. The suit was filed in 2023 by 29 state attorneys general alleging that the platforms were intentionally engineered to addict young people, boosting revenue while harming children’s mental health.
Deputy Attorney General Megan O’Neill of California’s Department of Justice detailed the states’ claims: that recommendation algorithms, infinite-scroll feeds, “likes,” and notification systems were designed to be addictive, and that the firm misled lawmakers and parents about platform safety while collecting data from users under 13 in violation of the Children Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).
“Meta needed kids, and it needed to reassure the people who cared about them that their kids were safe,” O’Neill told jurors.
What’s at Stake: Damages and Platform Overhaul
The four states pressing the case — California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey — could collectively seek up to $1.4 trillion in damages, a figure nearly matching the firm’s total Wall Street valuation. Even if the jury awards less, the states want a court order compelling changes to how the platforms operate. Executives, including CEO Mark Zuckerberg, are expected to testify.
The company has called the allegations “unsubstantiated” and the proposed penalty “vastly disproportionate.” A spokesperson said Monday that the states “offer no proof anyone in their states was misled” and are “chasing an outlandish payout.” Meta’s lawyer Paul Schmidt countered in his opening that the case misrepresents company policies and lacks evidentiary support
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