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Meta loses bid to dismiss US states’ claims that Facebook, Instagram addict children

By Thomson Reuters Jun 30, 2026 | 7:59 AM

June 30 (Reuters) – A federal judge rejected Meta Platforms’ bid to dismiss ​a lawsuit by ‌dozens of U.S. state attorneys general accusing it of designing Facebook and Instagram to be ‌addictive ​to children ⁠and knowingly concealing ⁠the harm from the public.

In a decision late on Monday night, U.S. District ​Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers in Oakland, California ⁠denied Meta’s ⁠motion to dismiss claims ​based on deception, unfairness ​and violations of the federal ‌Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act.

The judge also said it was undisputed that ⁠Meta did not comply with that law’s notice and parental consent ⁠requirements, ‌and granted summary ⁠judgment to the ​states ‌on that issue.

Meta did ​not immediately ⁠respond to a request for comment on Tuesday.

(Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by ​Emelia Sithole-Matarise)