Lawsuit Claims Meta Violated COPPA by Targeting Children

• A jury in California found Meta liable for violating a law that allows Facebook and Instagram to target children
• A federal lawsuit alleged that COPPA was violated by collecting and tracking children’s data, and that resulted in ads being served to those under 18
• TikTok’s global ad revenue guidance, which Meta and Snap are also expected to provide, is for the next 27 days

A federal court ruled that Meta Platforms violated a law designed to protect children, finding that Facebook and Instagram had violated the law by collecting children’s personal data, which the court said was done without parental consent.

The jury in the case of John Gonzalez Rodgers in Oakland, California. found that Meta violated the law, and that it had done so through its practices of tracking children’s online activities without parental consent in violation of COPPA.

The lawsuit also said that Meta did not properly comply with COPPA by collecting children’s data, and that as a result the company’s targeted advertising practices were used to influence children.

Gonzales Rodgers sought damages totaling $2,600 per object, which the court determined was appropriate. The judge noted that social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Google, YouTube, Snapchat and TikTok could be used by children for psychological manipulation.

The lawsuit alleges that, based on the data that children’s accounts on Facebook and Instagram may provide, the platforms can use it to display targeted, personalized, and manipulative ads, as well as to influence children’s behavior and emotions.

Meta responded that it has not violated the law, saying the company’s practices did not involve collecting children’s personal data in the way required by COPPA. The company also argued that the court’s decision was incorrect.

The jury found that Meta violated the law by using children’s personal data to target them with advertising.

The court’s ruling is for the next 18 months.

Meanwhile, June 30, 2026, 3:29 PM EDT reports that TikTok’s global ad revenue guidance for the next 15 years is expected to be provided. The company will also provide guidance for the next 15 years.

In its filings, that TikTok, which is subject to R.K.C., is a company that violates the law in its own right, according to Meta, YouTube, TikTok and Snap, which have been accused of “unclear scrutiny” and autopublication.

The company also said that YouTube has already provided forecasts, and that Meta and Snap may do so as well. In addition, it said that the ad revenue guidance for the next 27 days in the United States is expected to be provided by the company.

Tags: USA/Technology/AI/Well-being