The litigation focuses on allegations that Meta intentionally designed Facebook and Instagram with addictive features, such as infinite scroll and push notifications, to hook young users.
This trial follows closely behind another major case in her courtroom, the legal battle between Elon Musk and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman regarding the founding mission of the artificial intelligence company.
The outcome of the Meta trial could fundamentally reshape the company's advertising-driven business model.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta and other officials are seeking court-ordered changes to the algorithms that power Meta’s platforms, which the states argue were designed to exploit the vulnerabilities of children and teenagers.
Because targeted advertising accounts for 98% of Meta’s revenue, any mandated alterations to how the company designs and operates its core features could impact its financial growth as it continues to invest heavily in AI infrastructure.
Judge Gonzalez Rogers is utilizing an advisory jury—a group of citizens who hear evidence to help the judge gauge community standards, though the final legal decision remains hers—to navigate the case.
Beyond this specific trial, she is overseeing a broader consolidation of nearly 3,000 lawsuits against major tech firms, including TikTok, Snap, and YouTube, concerning alleged harms to minors.
Known for a direct and "no-nonsense" judicial style, Gonzalez Rogers previously handled major antitrust litigation involving Apple’s App Store and music services.