Meta Faces Charges in California Over Child Safety Practices
Meta has been charged in California over its child safety practices, with allegations that it designed apps to hook users and collected data on children under 13 without parental consent. The case is ongoing, and Meta has not yet been tried.
3 reports on this incident · first at Aug 21, 2026, 12:15 a.m. ET
Earlier reports
Aug 21, 2026, 12:19 a.m. ET
Meta Faces Charges in California Over Child Safety Practices
Meta has been charged in California over allegations that the company designed its apps to 'hook the users, hold them for as long as they can, harvest their data and hide the truth from the public,' contributing to the youth mental health crisis and collecting data on children under 13 without parental consent, according to NBC Bay Area.
The charges were filed in a case that opened with the states' allegations that Meta's practices harmed young users. The matter is only at the charging stage, and no trial has been held. As with any charge, Meta is presumed innocent until proven guilty, and the case remains undecided.
No sentencing has been scheduled, as the court has yet to determine the next steps in the proceedings.
Aug 21, 2026, 12:15 a.m. ETFirst report
Federal Trial Opens in California Over Meta's Child Safety Practices
A federal trial opened in California on August 18, 2026, with states alleging that Meta designed its apps to "hook the users, hold them for as long as they can, harvest their data and hide the truth from the public," contributing to the youth mental health crisis and collecting data on children under 13 without parental consent, according to NBC Bay Area.
The charges are allegations, and Meta is presumed innocent until proven otherwise. The trial is ongoing, and the outcome has not been determined.
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- Version 121 Aug 2026, 04:19current
First published.
- Version 121 Aug 2026, 04:15current
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- Version 121 Aug 2026, 04:23current
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