A $17 billion settlement between the owner of Facebook and 48 states, including Virginia, is a “down payment on reforms” to make social media more accountable to the needs of children, Virginia’s attorney general says.
Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones listened during a cybercrime roundtable on Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026, at Piedmont Virginia Community College in Albemarle County.
CAL TOBIAS
Virginia’s attorney general said the settlement will be a "down payment on reforms" to protect children.
A federal lawsuit in California may affect the settlement.
Of the $17.5 billion, California is owed $1.5 billion, according to Jones.
Virginia, along with 47 other states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, sued in a lawsuit filed six years ago over claims that Meta Platforms Inc. knowingly exposed users to harmful content and failed to protect the privacy of children.
In addition to the financial penalties, Meta agreed to implement new safety measures.
In a statement following the settlement, Meta agreed to:
- Children’s data will be deleted between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. every day.
- Meta may face penalties for failing to protect users and committing to privacy controls on content about age of users and to intercept efforts to exploit children.
- Children’s privacy on its social media will have more influence.
Jones said the settlement addresses the states’ claims.
“This is a momentous day for Virginia,” he said, assessing that we “have been working hard and will.”
In 2022, the settlement reached between the states and Meta was finalized.
Of the $17.5 billion, Virginia receives about $60 million, according to Jones.
That figure could grow to $70 million if other states also sue.
Meta has also agreed to a payment schedule at the beginning of next year.
The money will go toward future enforcement of the settlement and to educate children on how to interact with and protect their personal information online.
Jones said the settlement validates the states’ claims.
“It is a monumental day for Virginia,” he said, adding that we “have been working hard and will.”
Meta’s settlement addresses the states’ claims.
“This is a momentous day for Virginia,” he said, assessing that we “have been working hard and will.”
Bill Atkinson
@BAtkinson_PI on X
