Rob Bonta
ON THE RECORD · 33 verbatim quotes · every quote source-verified
“gives notice to others in the industry that we're not done, and we expect similar outcomes from them as well.”
Rob Bonta · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-30
Rob Bonta issued a warning that prosecutors will seek similar accountability across the social media industry.
“a floor conceptually, not a ceiling,”
Rob Bonta · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-30
Rob Bonta characterized the settlement with Meta as an initial baseline rather than an end point.
“It's the highest amount of money ever paid in a case like this,”
Rob Bonta · said 2026-08-27 · reported 2026-08-28
Bonta, who co-led the effort, spoke to CNBC's David Faber about the settlement amount.
“the core of this case is not the financial penalties that Meta is paying,”
Rob Bonta · said 2026-08-27 · reported 2026-08-28
Bonta emphasized that the settlement's importance lies beyond the financial penalties.
“It is the business practices that they will change that will help protect the mental health of our kids.”
Rob Bonta · said 2026-08-27 · reported 2026-08-28
Bonta highlighted that the business practice changes mandated by the settlement will help protect children's mental health.
“It is not preemptive in any way,”
Rob Bonta · said 2026-08-27 · reported 2026-08-27
Bonta said in a press conference on Wednesday that the settlement is not preemptive.
“As big as Meta is, it doesn't stand alone,”
Rob Bonta · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-27
Bonta said that as big as Meta is, it doesn't stand alone.
“We're continuing our fight across social media, including our litigation against TikTok, and we'll continue to demand better from all parts of this industry through our ongoing work with the legislature.”
Rob Bonta · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-27
Bonta said they are continuing their fight across social media, including litigation against TikTok.
“It's a floor conceptually, not a ceiling.”
Rob Bonta · said 2026-08-27 · reported 2026-08-27
Bonta said in a press conference on Wednesday that the settlement is a floor conceptually, not a ceiling.
“The unlawful merger of these two entertainment behemoths would lead to higher prices, lower quality, and less content for film and television, harming movie theaters, basic cable distributors, and ultimately, audiences on every sofa and movie theater seat in the U.S.,”
Rob Bonta · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-22
California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced a multistate lawsuit challenging the proposed merger of Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery.
“civil penalties, restitution and distortion,”
Rob Bonta · said 2026-08-18 · reported 2026-08-22
Bonta clarified the core focus of the multi-state trial against Meta to reporters.
“[Paramount] wanted to talk about everything except for what this case is about. They want to talk about the streaming market, which we don't allege in our complaint. They want to talk about CNN, which is not a focus of our complaint. They want to talk about the foreign regulators. We want to talk about the three markets that we set forth in our complaint, where we think there's antitrust violation,”
Rob Bonta · said 2026-08-20 · reported 2026-08-22
California Attorney General Rob Bonta discussed the state's antitrust lawsuit against Paramount's acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery during an appearance on CNBC.
“Some California landlords have tried to get away with illegal rent increases by shifting utilities and other fees to tenants and pretending those new charges are not ‘rent’”
Rob Bonta · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-21
Rob Bonta commented on landlords shifting utility fees onto tenants in violation of rent laws.
“I will say that coming to the table has always been on the table. And if [CEO David] Ellison and Paramount want to come to the table in good faith and talk, we want to talk, too. We're happy to have that conversation,”
Rob Bonta · said 2026-08-20 · reported 2026-08-20
Bonta addressed speculation about settlement talks between Paramount and the suing states.
“[The law has] been on the books for over a century. And it's just a straight up, meat-and-potatoes, black-and-white, bread-and-butter, antitrust case.”
Rob Bonta · said 2026-08-20 · reported 2026-08-20
Bonta characterized the case as a straightforward antitrust matter under longstanding law.
“Whether the market is shrinking or growing is really irrelevant,”
Rob Bonta · said 2026-08-20 · reported 2026-08-20
Bonta responded to arguments that the pay TV subscriber base is shrinking due to streaming's rise.
“presumptively illegal market concentration”
Rob Bonta · said 2026-08-20 · reported 2026-08-20
Bonta said a combined Paramount-WBD would create this in the film and TV markets identified in the lawsuit.
“We are the ones who've looked at this from a straight-up law and facts perspective in the American economy under American law under Clayton Act Section 7, which applies here as antitrust law,”
Rob Bonta · said 2026-08-20 · reported 2026-08-20
Bonta explained the legal basis of the states' antitrust case under the Clayton Act.
“We do prefer to resolve cases in the boardroom instead of the courtroom, but for now we're bringing our case, and, you know, I hope they can focus on the actual allegations we make in our complaint.”
Rob Bonta · said 2026-08-20 · reported 2026-08-20
Bonta continued discussing his preference to resolve the case through negotiation rather than trial.
“already have pending lawsuits now against TikTok,”
Rob Bonta · said 2026-08-18 · reported 2026-08-19
Bonta noted other states have pending lawsuits against TikTok.
“To be clear, we are not asking for $1.4 trillion dollars,”
Rob Bonta · said 2026-08-18 · reported 2026-08-19
Bonta clarified that the states are not seeking $1.4 trillion in penalties from Meta.
“will be asking for a significant financial gain in the form of total existing civil penalties as an important and appropriate part of this case.”
Rob Bonta · said 2026-08-18 · reported 2026-08-19
Bonta described the plaintiffs' intent to seek civil penalties as part of the case.
“also concerned about YouTube as well as Snap.”
Rob Bonta · said 2026-08-18 · reported 2026-08-19
Bonta expressed concern about other platforms beyond Meta.
“Who goes first? Who goes last? Ideally, they all go at the same time,”
Rob Bonta · said 2026-08-18 · reported 2026-08-19
Bonta commented on the sequencing of legal actions against various social media companies.
“That's not possible. In an ideal world, they would all commit to the same reforms and changes to all kids and keep them safe.”
Rob Bonta · said 2026-08-18 · reported 2026-08-19
Bonta continued his remarks about an ideal scenario where all social media companies commit to reforms simultaneously.
“This is not a damages case,”
Rob Bonta · said 2026-08-18 · reported 2026-08-19
Bonta made this statement at a press conference after the first day of the trial.
“submitted documentation to the court”
Rob Bonta · said 2026-08-18 · reported 2026-08-19
Bonta described documentation submitted by the states' lawyers regarding statistics on young users.
“The judge will exercise discretion as to what that will be.”
Rob Bonta · said 2026-08-18 · reported 2026-08-19
Bonta noted the judge would decide the amount of civil penalties.
“highest possible number that could ever be calculated based on that data,”
Rob Bonta · said 2026-08-18 · reported 2026-08-19
Bonta explained how the $1.4 trillion figure was calculated.
“It's a figure Meta estimated.”
Rob Bonta · said 2026-08-18 · reported 2026-08-19
Bonta claimed the $1.4 trillion figure originated from Meta's own estimate, which Meta disputes.
“Meta designed a dangerous product for young users, knew it to be dangerous, and then lied to children, families, and the community about how dangerous it was.”
Rob Bonta · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-17
Bonta issued a statement last week after the court allowed the states' case against Meta to proceed to trial.
“There is no debate here: This merger will snuff out competition, drive up prices, diminish content quality, and produce fewer movies and shows each year,”
Rob Bonta · said 2026-07-13 · reported 2026-07-13
Bonta spoke at a press conference near the Hollywood sign announcing the lawsuit by 12 state attorneys general to block Paramount's takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery.
“Antitrust enforcement is a check on billionaires currying favor with the president so he’ll do their bidding,”
Rob Bonta · said 2026-07-13 · reported 2026-07-13
During a press conference, Bonta cited the Ellison family's ties to Trump in arguing for antitrust enforcement.