Social media giant Meta loses bid to dismiss New Jersey lawsuit over children’s safety

The ruling allows New Jersey and a bipartisan coalition of states to pursue claims that Facebook and Instagram harmed children and teens while misleading the public about the risks.

A federal judge has rejected an effort by Meta Platforms, Inc. to dismiss a lawsuit brought by New Jersey and a bipartisan coalition of state attorneys general, clearing the way for the case to proceed to trial in August.

New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport announced Tuesday that the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California denied Meta’s motion for summary judgment, allowing all claims in the multistate lawsuit to move forward.

The lawsuit, originally filed in 2023, alleges that Meta designed Facebook and Instagram with features intended to keep children and teenagers engaged for longer periods, harming their mental and physical health while increasing the company’s profits. The states allege the company violated both the federal Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act and the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act.

The court also agreed with the states that Meta did not obtain parental consent in a manner sufficient to satisfy COPPA’s requirements for protecting the online privacy of children under 13.

“We are thrilled that a federal district court has ruled that our case against Meta will proceed to trial,” Davenport said in a statement. “For years, Meta has failed to protect kids on Facebook and Instagram, endangering their mental health while profiting at their expense.”

The trial is scheduled to begin in August in Oakland, California. Jury selection is set to begin Aug. 12, with opening statements scheduled for Aug. 18.