{
  "id": 1699764,
  "title": "Meta Faces Biggest Trial Yet, Could Cost the Company $1.4 Trillion",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/meta-faces-biggest-trial-yet-could-cost-the-company-1-4-trillion",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-08-18T11:37:33.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "ProPakistani",
    "slug": "propakistani",
    "url": "https://propakistani.pk/2026/08/18/meta-faces-biggest-trial-yet-could-cost-the-company-1-4-trillion/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Meta is embroiled in one of its most significant legal battles as 29 US states have brought a lawsuit against the company behind Facebook and Instagram. The plaintiffs accuse the social media giant of deliberately designing its platforms to keep children hooked and illegally collecting data from users under 13. The court proceedings begin on Tuesday, August 18, in a federal courthouse located in Oakland, California. Meta claims that the penalties demanded by the states could reach as high as $1.4 trillion, almost equivalent to the company's market value. However, the attorneys general have not officially stated this figure and suggested that the potential penalties may be closer to $200 billion. The lawsuit originated from a multi-state investigation prompted by whistleblower Frances Haugen, who raised concerns about Meta's awareness of the potential effects its products could have on younger users. The states argue that Meta encouraged excessive use among children and teens, while also deceiving users and families about the safety of Facebook and Instagram. Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Meta, and Adam Mosseri, the chief of Instagram, are expected to provide testimony during the trial, which is anticipated to last for approximately six weeks. An eight-person jury will be responsible for hearing the evidence, though unlike a typical jury trial, their verdict will only be advisory. Judge Rogers will ultimately make the decision regarding liability and any penalties imposed. The outcome of this trial could have implications that extend far beyond this particular lawsuit. Meta and other prominent social media companies are presently facing numerous individual cases, as well as broader lawsuits from schools, governments, and other entities, alleging that their products have harmed younger users. The company has already incurred substantial legal expenses, spending $2.4 billion on legal costs during the second quarter of 2026 alone. Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers has reportedly labeled the $1.4 trillion estimate as unreasonable, while also rejecting Meta's proposed figure of around $4 million. All 29 states are pursuing claims under the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), alleging that Meta was aware of children under 13 using Facebook and Instagram but nonetheless collected and utilized their personal information without obtaining proper parental consent. California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey are additionally seeking to impose changes on Meta's platforms, such as implementing age restrictions and removing features like infinite scrolling in an effort to safeguard younger users. Meta denies these allegations, asserting that the states have failed to prove that residents were misled or harmed. The company maintains that it has implemented robust protections for teenagers and contends that the proposed financial penalties are disproportionate.",
  "summary": "Meta is facing one of its biggest legal battles yet as 29 US states take the Facebook and Instagram owner … Read More The post Meta Faces Biggest Trial Yet, Could Cost the Company $1.4 Trillion appeared first on ProPakistani .",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Business Times - Companies & Markets",
        "title": "Meta faces potential penalty of up to US$1.4 trillion as landmark social media trial begins",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/17/meta-faces-potential-penalty-of-up-to-us-1-4-trillion-as-landmark",
        "published": "2026-08-17T22:57:19.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}