States take Meta to trial in California in the biggest fight yet over social media harms to children0

• Gear / Gear News and Events, General, News, Newsletters, Security / Security News, US
• August 17, 2026

Of the thousands of lawsuits Meta faces over child safety on its platforms, none may be more consequential than one going to trial this week in California. States are seeking extensive financial damages that could, in theory, total as much as $1.4 trillion, plus changes to how the company operates Facebook and Instagram. The lawsuit