Archive · 21 Aug 2026
Meta Trial's $1.4 Trillion Figure Came From Defense
A court case about Meta began in Oakland this week.
Many reports mentioned a possible $1.4 trillion penalty.
But Meta’s own lawyers calculated that number to show how large the maximum legal penalty could become.
The states are reportedly seeking something closer to $193 billion or $200 billion.
They describe this money as restitution, which focuses on taking back allegedly wrongful profits.
The states also want Meta to change some Instagram and Facebook features.
They want algorithms trained on data from children under 13 to be deleted.
A large fine would be paid once, while these orders could permanently change how the products work.
The $1.4 trillion figure was calculated by Meta’s lawyers, not requested by the states.
It represents a theoretical maximum based on $20,000 penalties for every alleged violation.
California officials have described the states’ likely monetary request as roughly $193 billion to $200 billion.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta is framing the case around restitution for allegedly wrongful gains, rather than damages for individual harms.
The states are also seeking nationwide orders affecting Meta’s features and algorithms trained on data from children under 13.
- Who
- The states, including California officials, are pursuing the case against Meta; Meta’s lawyers supplied the $1.4 trillion calculation.
- What
- The trial concerns alleged unlawful practices involving children and seeks monetary restitution plus nationwide changes to Meta’s products and algorithms.
- When
- The trial opened in Oakland this week; the article does not specify exact dates.
- Where
- Oakland, California.
- Why
- The states seek to recover allegedly wrongful gains and require Meta to remove certain features and delete specified algorithms.
States’ Position
Meta’s Position
Size of the monetary remedy
States’ Position
California officials have put the figure at roughly $193 billion, while the states indicated that $200 billion is more realistic.
Meta’s Position
Meta’s lawyers calculated the $1.4 trillion theoretical maximum to argue that mechanically applying the statutory formula would be vastly disproportionate.
Legal basis for payment
States’ Position
California Attorney General Rob Bonta frames the case as restitution, seeking to strip Meta of gains allegedly obtained through unlawful practices rather than compensate individual victims for damages.
Meta’s Position
Meta’s recorded argument centers on the proportionality of the potential penalty and the consequences of applying the formula across every alleged violation.
Product changes
States’ Position
The states seek nationwide orders requiring Meta to remove specific Instagram and Facebook design features and delete algorithms trained on data collected from children under 13.
Meta’s Position
The article does not state Meta’s specific response to the requested injunctions, but describes the company’s defense as emphasizing the potentially destructive scale of the monetary remedy.
- Frequently reported figure
- $1.4 trillion
- Source of $1.4 trillion
- A theoretical maximum calculated by Meta’s legal team
- Statutory penalty used
- $20,000 per alleged violation
- California’s stated estimate
- Approximately $193 billion
- States’ indicated realistic figure
- Approximately $200 billion
- Legal remedy emphasized
- Restitution rather than damages
- Additional requested remedy
- Nationwide injunctive relief affecting features and child-data algorithms