For Immediate Release
August 18, 2026
Media Contact: Damon Sidur
RELEASE
BOISE, ID — Ahead of opening statements, Attorney General Raúl Labrador today issued the following statement as a bipartisan coalition of attorneys general began presenting their case against Meta, alleging the social media giant knowingly designed and deployed harmful features on Facebook and Instagram that drive compulsive use of the platforms by children and teens, while falsely assuring parents and the public that its platforms were safe for young users.
“Protecting children in Idaho is one of the most important responsibilities of my office,” said Attorney General Labrador. “Meta deliberately designed Facebook and Instagram to addict young, developing minds while misleading parents about the dangers of its platforms. Meta put profits ahead of the well-being of children, and we intend to hold the company fully accountable.”
In October 2023, the state coalition filed suit against Meta following a multi-year nationwide investigation. The states allege Meta deliberately designed its platforms to exploit young users’ vulnerabilities, foster compulsive use, and maximize the time young people spend on Facebook and Instagram. The attorneys general also allege Meta knew about harms to young users but deceived users, parents, and the public about the risks. The lawsuit further alleges Meta illegally collected personal information from children under 13 without their parents’ consent, in violation of the federal Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act.
Meta has repeatedly tried to prevent the states’ case from reaching trial. 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, clearing the way for the attorneys general to present their case at trial.
The trial opened before U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California and is expected to last six to eight weeks.
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.
The lawsuit also includes attorneys general from 25 other states: Arizona, 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.
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About Raúl Labrador
Raúl Labrador is the 33rd Attorney General of Idaho. The Office of the Attorney General provides legal representation for the State of Idaho. This representation is furnished to state agencies, offices and boards in the furtherance of the state's legal interests. The office is part of state government’s executive branch and its duties are laid out in the Idaho Constitution.
