‘We will not stop fighting’: AG Mayes pushes for kids’ safety in Meta trial | Arizona News

PHOENIX (KVOA) – A bipartisan coalition of attorneys general is presenting evidence in court against Meta, accusing the social media company of deliberately creating harmful features on Facebook and Instagram that drive compulsive use among children and teens while misleading parents about platform safety.

Opening statements began Monday, Aug. 17, in California. The trial is expected to last six to eight weeks, according to the Arizona Attorney General’s Office.

“For years, Meta chased engagement and profit while turning a blind eye to the damage it was doing to kids,” Arizona Attorney General Mayes said. “Arizona joined this case because our children’s safety online shouldn’t depend on a company’s bottom line, and we will not stop fighting until Meta is held fully accountable.”

The coalition filed the lawsuit in October 2023 following a multi-year nationwide investigation, according to the office. The states claim Meta intentionally designed its platforms to exploit young users’ vulnerabilities and maximize the time children spend on Facebook and Instagram.

The lawsuit also alleges Meta illegally collected personal information from children under 13 without parental consent, violating the federal Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act. Attorneys general further claim the company knew about harms to young users but deceived the public about the risks.

Meta reportedly attempted multiple times to prevent the case from reaching trial, according to the Attorney General’s Office. In 2025, the court rejected Meta’s attempt to dismiss key parts of the states’ case, allowing claims related to allegedly addictive platform design and Meta’s failure to warn young users and parents about known risks to move forward.

After the court rejected Meta’s motion to rule in their favor without a trial in June 2026, the company asked the district court and the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to stay the trial. Both courts rejected that request, officials said.

The states are asking the court to hold Meta accountable, stop unlawful practices, and require the company to follow laws designed to protect children and consumers. They are also seeking monetary penalties and other relief available under federal and state law.

The trial will be litigated by counsel from the attorney general offices of California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey, with support from other coalition states. In addition to Arizona, the coalition includes attorneys general from 24 other states: Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Nebraska, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.