Jury selection begins in Meta child harm trial, likened to Big Tobacco

Published Aug 13, 04:30 AM UTC

Jury selection began on August 13, 2026, in a California federal court for a landmark trial against Meta, owner of Instagram and Facebook. A coalition of U.S. states alleges Meta deliberately designed addictive features for children, violating state laws. The trial, presided over by Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, is being compared to the 1990s tobacco lawsuits. Meta has already been convicted in separate trials in Los Angeles and New Mexico, with combined damages nearing $1 billion. The states are seeking financial penalties up to $1.4 trillion and major changes to Meta's apps. Meta denies the allegations, stating it supports young people. CEO Mark Zuckerberg is expected to testify. Experts say the case could lead to a broader reckoning for social media companies.