Jul 9, 2026
Git Some Git Back
I hope they burn that smarmy arrogant little prick to the ground.
Meta says US states are seeking $1.4 trillion in penalties in August youth safety trial
Meta put forward the figure in its response to the attorneys general's filings on how penalties should be calculated if the states prevailed at trial.
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Meta said the amount was unsupported by the evidence.
"A sanction of that size has no analog in the history of consumer protection enforcement," the company said in the filing.
"The plaintiffs’ outlandish calculations have no basis in fact or law," the company said in a statement, adding that it would continue to defend itself against the states' demands.
A spokesperson for California Attorney General Rob Bonta said in a statement the lawsuit "alleges Meta has prioritized profits over the safety of kids and fueled the mental health crisis we see impacting a generation of American children. The California Department of Justice looks forward to holding Meta fully accountable at trial in August."
Spokespeople for the attorneys general offices in Colorado and New Jersey declined to comment.
Representatives for the Kentucky Attorney General's office did not respond to requests for comment after the filing.
TALLYING DAMAGES
The states' filings are sealed, but at a court hearing in June they said they were calculating the penalties by multiplying the number of violations by fine amounts set by state law. The number of violations is based on the estimated number of teens and young users affected by Meta's actions, the states said.
Twenty-nine states have sued Meta in federal court, most of them alleging the company violated the federal Children's Online Privacy Protection Act by collecting data from children without proper parental consent. The trial in August before U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers will address all claims brought under that law, plus the four states’ allegations that the company violated their state laws protecting consumers by misleading them about the safety of their platforms.
Meta has denied the allegations, saying the attorneys general have no evidence it misled consumers about its platforms' alleged addictiveness because "social media addiction" is not an established psychiatric condition, and therefore statements that its platforms were not addictive could not be false.
A further 14 states have brought claims under their own laws, which will be heard at a separate trial in February.
Last month, Rogers rejected Meta’s bid to cancel the trial, saying there remained factual disputes over whether its social media platforms were addictive, whether Meta falsely denied it designed them that way, and whether it "partially" directed the platforms at children.
Meta, Snapchat and that platform's parent Snap Inc. (SNAP.N), opens new tab, YouTube and its parent Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL.O), opens new tab, and TikTok and its parent ByteDance face thousands of lawsuits in federal and state court over claims they knowingly designed their platforms to have features that addict children and teens, fueling a mental health crisis.
States across the country have sued the companies, some as part of the case before Rogers and others in their home state courts. New Mexico was the first to go to trial, and a jury awarded the state $375 million in March after finding the company had misled New Mexico consumers.
A judge in New Mexico is currently weighing the second portion of the state’s case, which seeks additional damages and a court order directing the company to make changes to its Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp platforms.
- Penalties were calculated based on state laws in Colorado, California, Kentucky and New Jersey
- Meta says the number is not supported by evidence
- Company faces thousands of claims over addictive features
July 6 (Reuters) - Meta Platforms (META.O), opens new tab said in a court filing on Monday that four states were seeking $1.4 trillion in penalties over accusations the company designed its Facebook and Instagram platforms to addict young users and misled the public about their safety.
Meta put forward the figure in its response to the attorneys general's filings on how penalties should be calculated if the states prevailed at trial.
The Reuters Daily Briefing newsletter provides all the news you need to start your day. Sign up here.
The number, which has not previously been disclosed and is close to Meta’s market capitalization of around $1.5 trillion, comes ahead of an August trial in Oakland, California, over the claims brought by California, Colorado, Kentucky and New Jersey against the company.
Meta said the amount was unsupported by the evidence.
"A sanction of that size has no analog in the history of consumer protection enforcement," the company said in the filing.
"The plaintiffs’ outlandish calculations have no basis in fact or law," the company said in a statement, adding that it would continue to defend itself against the states' demands.
A spokesperson for California Attorney General Rob Bonta said in a statement the lawsuit "alleges Meta has prioritized profits over the safety of kids and fueled the mental health crisis we see impacting a generation of American children. The California Department of Justice looks forward to holding Meta fully accountable at trial in August."
Spokespeople for the attorneys general offices in Colorado and New Jersey declined to comment.
Representatives for the Kentucky Attorney General's office did not respond to requests for comment after the filing.
TALLYING DAMAGES
The states' filings are sealed, but at a court hearing in June they said they were calculating the penalties by multiplying the number of violations by fine amounts set by state law. The number of violations is based on the estimated number of teens and young users affected by Meta's actions, the states said.
Twenty-nine states have sued Meta in federal court, most of them alleging the company violated the federal Children's Online Privacy Protection Act by collecting data from children without proper parental consent. The trial in August before U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers will address all claims brought under that law, plus the four states’ allegations that the company violated their state laws protecting consumers by misleading them about the safety of their platforms.
Meta has denied the allegations, saying the attorneys general have no evidence it misled consumers about its platforms' alleged addictiveness because "social media addiction" is not an established psychiatric condition, and therefore statements that its platforms were not addictive could not be false.
A further 14 states have brought claims under their own laws, which will be heard at a separate trial in February.
Last month, Rogers rejected Meta’s bid to cancel the trial, saying there remained factual disputes over whether its social media platforms were addictive, whether Meta falsely denied it designed them that way, and whether it "partially" directed the platforms at children.
Meta, Snapchat and that platform's parent Snap Inc. (SNAP.N), opens new tab, YouTube and its parent Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL.O), opens new tab, and TikTok and its parent ByteDance face thousands of lawsuits in federal and state court over claims they knowingly designed their platforms to have features that addict children and teens, fueling a mental health crisis.
States across the country have sued the companies, some as part of the case before Rogers and others in their home state courts. New Mexico was the first to go to trial, and a jury awarded the state $375 million in March after finding the company had misled New Mexico consumers.
A judge in New Mexico is currently weighing the second portion of the state’s case, which seeks additional damages and a court order directing the company to make changes to its Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp platforms.
Overheard
Women are lonely too.
But it's not noteworthy
because lonely women
don't commit a lot of crime
or join violent fascist gangs.
They go to grad school
or adopt a rescue dog.
Phil DeFranco
One tiny bug sums up the entire Trump era.
What is cyclosporiasis, the parasitic illness causing ‘explosive’ diarrhea?
Illness surging in Michigan and other US states is rarely life-threatening, CDC says – but it can have severe effects
Cases of cyclosporiasis – a parasitic illness that can cause “explosive”, watery diarrhea – have surged across the United States in recent days, health officials have said, with an abnormally large outbreak of almost 1,000 cases reported in Michigan.
Michigan typically reports about 50 cases a year, making the current outbreak the largest in the state’s history and one of the nation’s biggest in recent years. Ohio has also reported a sharp increase, with 177 cases as of 2 July, since the CDC’s last count.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recorded 145 cases across 17 states, as of 16 June, with some hospitalizations, but the agency’s data lags significantly behind state reporting and is likely a substantial undercount.
Although cyclosporiasis is rarely life-threatening, and no deaths have been linked to the current outbreak, the source of the infections has not yet been identified and illness can have severe effects. Here’s what you need to know.
What is cyclosporiasis?
The gastrointestinal illness is caused by the parasite cyclospora, which spreads through raw produce and water that has been contaminated with human feces.
In the US, it is a seasonal illness, with outbreaks tending to occur most often during the summer months between May and August. Past outbreaks have been linked to contaminated raw fruit, vegetables and herbs such as basil, cilantro, berries and spinach.
The most commonly reported symptom is watery diarrhea “with frequent and sometimes explosive bowel movements”, according to the CDC. Often the diarrhea may resolve and then return.
Other symptoms include cramps, nausea, fatigue, loss of appetite, low-grade fever and vomiting. Symptoms can last anywhere from several days to over a month. Some people do not have symptoms.
The average time from ingestion to symptoms is about a week, but can range from two days to about two weeks, the CDC says, and it is not usually transmitted from person to person.
Cyclosporiasis is not usually life-threatening and most people recover on their own. Those with weakened immune systems are more at risk. It is typically treated with antibiotics.
How does this compare to previous US outbreaks?
In the past, people in the US have been infected by consuming fruits or vegetables that were exposed to feces-contaminated irrigation water.
In 2022, a surge of cases in Florida was caused by contaminated lettuce in packaged salad kits that sickened hundreds of people.
While comprehensive data on cyclospora outbreaks is lacking, available information shows only a handful of documented outbreaks in the last 20 years have surpassed 1,000 cases, including a 1996 outbreak tied to Guatemalan raspberries that sickened almost 1,500 people, and a 2019 outbreak linked to Mexican basil that sickened more than 2,400 across the US and Canada.
How can you protect yourself from cyclosporiasis?
The best way to prevent infection with a parasite is to avoid food or water that may have been contaminated.
Fresh produce should be thoroughly washed before being eaten. Even so, cyclospora can cling to some foods, so washing may not eliminate the risk of infection entirely. Fruits, herbs and vegetables that have nooks and crannies – such as raspberries, blackberries, lettuce, spinach, cilantro, green onions, and basil – are more likely to harbor the parasite and can cause illness.
As health officials investigate the potential source, they recommend consumers purchase whole heads of lettuce rather than pre-washed, bagged lettuce or salad mixes, and remove the outer two to three leaves before washing the remaining ones under running water.
They also recommend cooking produce and vegetables when possible, which can kill the pathogen.
Gut-wrecking stomach bug cases confirmed "throughout" Colorado
Colorado public health officials have recorded 90 local cases of a parasite so far this year, though where specifically remains unclear.
The big picture:
Illness surging in Michigan and other US states is rarely life-threatening, CDC says – but it can have severe effects
Cases of cyclosporiasis – a parasitic illness that can cause “explosive”, watery diarrhea – have surged across the United States in recent days, health officials have said, with an abnormally large outbreak of almost 1,000 cases reported in Michigan.
Michigan typically reports about 50 cases a year, making the current outbreak the largest in the state’s history and one of the nation’s biggest in recent years. Ohio has also reported a sharp increase, with 177 cases as of 2 July, since the CDC’s last count.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recorded 145 cases across 17 states, as of 16 June, with some hospitalizations, but the agency’s data lags significantly behind state reporting and is likely a substantial undercount.
Although cyclosporiasis is rarely life-threatening, and no deaths have been linked to the current outbreak, the source of the infections has not yet been identified and illness can have severe effects. Here’s what you need to know.
What is cyclosporiasis?
The gastrointestinal illness is caused by the parasite cyclospora, which spreads through raw produce and water that has been contaminated with human feces.
In the US, it is a seasonal illness, with outbreaks tending to occur most often during the summer months between May and August. Past outbreaks have been linked to contaminated raw fruit, vegetables and herbs such as basil, cilantro, berries and spinach.
The most commonly reported symptom is watery diarrhea “with frequent and sometimes explosive bowel movements”, according to the CDC. Often the diarrhea may resolve and then return.
Other symptoms include cramps, nausea, fatigue, loss of appetite, low-grade fever and vomiting. Symptoms can last anywhere from several days to over a month. Some people do not have symptoms.
The average time from ingestion to symptoms is about a week, but can range from two days to about two weeks, the CDC says, and it is not usually transmitted from person to person.
Cyclosporiasis is not usually life-threatening and most people recover on their own. Those with weakened immune systems are more at risk. It is typically treated with antibiotics.
How does this compare to previous US outbreaks?
In the past, people in the US have been infected by consuming fruits or vegetables that were exposed to feces-contaminated irrigation water.
In 2022, a surge of cases in Florida was caused by contaminated lettuce in packaged salad kits that sickened hundreds of people.
While comprehensive data on cyclospora outbreaks is lacking, available information shows only a handful of documented outbreaks in the last 20 years have surpassed 1,000 cases, including a 1996 outbreak tied to Guatemalan raspberries that sickened almost 1,500 people, and a 2019 outbreak linked to Mexican basil that sickened more than 2,400 across the US and Canada.
How can you protect yourself from cyclosporiasis?
The best way to prevent infection with a parasite is to avoid food or water that may have been contaminated.
Fresh produce should be thoroughly washed before being eaten. Even so, cyclospora can cling to some foods, so washing may not eliminate the risk of infection entirely. Fruits, herbs and vegetables that have nooks and crannies – such as raspberries, blackberries, lettuce, spinach, cilantro, green onions, and basil – are more likely to harbor the parasite and can cause illness.
As health officials investigate the potential source, they recommend consumers purchase whole heads of lettuce rather than pre-washed, bagged lettuce or salad mixes, and remove the outer two to three leaves before washing the remaining ones under running water.
They also recommend cooking produce and vegetables when possible, which can kill the pathogen.
Colorado public health officials have recorded 90 local cases of a parasite so far this year, though where specifically remains unclear.
The big picture:
The gastrointestinal illness — called cyclosporiasis — is caused by a microscopic parasite spreading through contaminated food
- Health officials do not consider cyclosporiasis to be life-threatening, though U.S. officials are investigating what's driving the surge in cases nationwide.
Threat level:
Colorado has not identified any outbreaks or clusters of cyclospora associated with exposures in state, public health and environment spokesperson Hope Shuler said in a statement.
- 90 cases were reported in Colorado between Jan. 1 and June 30, though cases are not clustered to any specific region, preliminary data shows.
- Cases tend to increase between May and August, Shuler added.
- Last year, there were 204 cases reported in the state, per the reportable disease dashboard.
It's unclear how many counties are currently impacted. The state public health department declined to provide Axios with that data.
- Shuler said data is preliminary until next spring, at which point the state releases a breakdown by county.
- Cases are currently found "throughout Colorado, with more cases in more populous counties," Shuler added.
"We are seeing a seasonal summer increase in cases, per usual," she said, adding the majority of which are tied to international travel.
How it works:
How it works:
The infection typically spreads during the summer months, but some states are seeing a surge in cases beyond the usual reported incidents, raising questions about what's causing the outbreak.
- Symptoms, which include "explosive" or "watery" diarrhea, can last for a few days to more than a month without treatment, the CDC says.
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