Oakland, Calif. (AP) — Opening arguments are set to kick off Tuesday in a pivotal trial for Meta Platforms in a California federal court.
Attorneys general from California, Colorado, Kentucky and New Jersey are seeking extensive financial damages plus changes to how the company operates Facebook and Instagram. Twenty-nine states sued the tech giant in 2023 over child safety and privacy — the other 25 will go to trial later. The company also faces lawsuits in state courts.
The lawsuit accuses the social media giant of contributing to the youth mental health crisis by knowingly and deliberately designing features that get children addicted to its platforms. It also argues that Meta routinely collects data on children under 13 without their parents’ consent, in violation of federal law.
“This week, we’re in court with the largest consumer protection lawsuit in American history. We’ll show a jury that Meta concealed what it knew about the harm its products cause young people because looking away was more profitable,” said Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman in a statement.
Meta said it believes it has a strong case.
“We are proud of our record in protecting teens on our platforms and the amount of effort that we’ve put into developing protections over the years, even before these cases were ever filed, and continuing to the present day. We look forward to showing the judge and the jury those facts in court,” the company said in a statement.
U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers in Oakland will oversee the proceedings, which are expected to last six to eight weeks, with Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and other executives and former employees testifying. Gonzalez Rogers, appointed to the bench by President Barack Obama in 2011, has overseen a bevy of complex, high-profile cases involving Big Tech. These include Elon Musk's lawsuit against OpenAI and its founders as well as Epic Games' lawsuit against Apple over its app store.
The trial is the latest in an avalanche of lawsuits against Meta Platforms and other social media companies including Google’s YouTube, TikTok and Snap, over arguments that their platforms harm young people, illegally collect their data and are deliberately designed to addict them.
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AP Technology Writer Kaitlyn Huamani contributed to this story from Los Angeles.
Kentucky Division Chief of Consumer and Senior Protection Chris Lewis, left, and Colorado's Chief Trial Counsel Jason Slouthouber, middle, arrive at a Federal Courthouse Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Colorado's Chief Trial Counsel Jason Slouthouber arrives at a Federal Courthouse Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
FILE - People talk near a Meta sign outside of the company's headquarters in Menlo Park, Calif., March 7, 2023. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File)
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) — 2025 record: 16-0
The sixth-ranked Hoosiers will be hard-pressed to match last season's magical national championship run. They must replace Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza, the NFL's No. 1 overall draft pick and one of a school-record eight draftees in April.
Two-time Associated Press Coach of the Year Curt Cignetti will not bend his standards, especially after winning the titles he promised. Sure, it will be a challenge to improve on the first 16-0 season in major college football since the 1890s. But Cignetti has plenty of replacements — and holdovers — to produce a worthy sequel. He can build around 2025 Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year Carter Smith on offense and a stout front on defense, a group that has been bolstered by the late additions of two returning starters from last year ( Stephen Daley and Kellan Wyatt).
The key will be whether a stronger supporting cast and a more run-heavy system helps Mendoza's replacement, Josh Hoover, to cut down on the turnovers that vexed him at TCU. Indiana's bid for second straight Big Ten and national titles begins Sept. 5 when it hosts North Texas.
The offensive and defensive lines are the meat and potatoes of Cignetti's teams, and the Hoosiers have enough experience and depth to be among the nation's top units on both fronts. Indiana returns Smith, its starting left tackle, along with starting left guard Drew Evans. It also has all-Big Ten guard Joe Brunner, a transfer from Wisconsin. And Adedamola Ajani and Bray Lynch, key backups last season, could play larger roles this season.
Defensively, the return of Daley and Wyatt fortifies a line that already had two other starters back in Mario Landino and Tyrique Tucker. The Hoosiers also added former Kansas State teammates Chiddi Obiazor and Tobi Osunsanmi, former Notre Dame lineman Josh Burnham and former Tulsa lineman Joe Hjelle.
The biggest question may be how quickly a receiving corps that lost six of its top seven pass-catchers last year gels. Charlie Becker will play an expanded role after being a key cog in the Big Ten title game and the playoff run.
The transfer portal added other options, too. WR Nick Marsh has a big body and could be a downfield threat after two strong seasons at Michigan State. Former Michigan WR Tyler Morris missed all of last season with an injury but started four games for the 2023 national champs, and Shazz Preston started 13 games last season for playoff-bound Tulane.
Hoover (transfer from TCU), RB Turbo Richard (transfer from Boston College), DB A.J. Harris (transfer from Penn State), DB Carson Williams (transfer from Montana State), DB Quan Sanks (transfer rom Cincinnati).
Mendoza (NFL), WR Omar Cooper Jr. (NFL), LB Aiden Fisher (NFL), WR Elijah Sarratt (NFL), CB D'Angelo Ponds (NFL)
Vs. Ohio State (Oct. 17), at Michigan (Oct. 24), vs. USC (Nov. 14).
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FILE - TCU quarterback Josh Hoover (10) throws a pass against Houston during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Nov. 22, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith, File)
