Meta Ordered to Pay $375 Million in New Mexico Child Safety Case
A New Mexico jury found a major social media company violated state law. The verdict concluded the company misled users about platform safety and enabled child sexual exploitation.
Jury decision and penalties
The jury determined the firm violated New Mexico’s consumer protection law. It ordered Meta to pay $375 million in civil penalties in a child safety case.
The trial lasted six weeks. This was the first jury verdict on these specific claims against the company.
Accusations by the attorney general
State Attorney General Raúl Torrez brought the lawsuit. Torrez, a Democrat and former prosecutor, said predators gained unfettered access to underage users.
He alleged the platforms connected adults with victims, leading to real-world abuse and human trafficking. The state also claimed internal documents showed awareness of these problems.
Undercover operation
The case grew from an undercover operation run by Torrez’s office in 2023. Investigators created accounts posing as users younger than 14 on Facebook and Instagram.
Those accounts reportedly received sexually explicit material. Several adults were later criminally charged after contacting the decoy accounts.
Safety tools and platform design
The state accused the company of promoting its platforms as safe for children. Meanwhile, officials said the company failed to implement basic protections like age verification.
Prosecutors also argued platform features such as infinite scroll and auto-play increase engagement. They said those design choices can foster addictive behavior and harm youth mental health.
Company response and legal defenses
Meta said it disagrees with the verdict and plans to appeal. Company representatives emphasized their ongoing efforts to keep users safe.
The company has argued it is protected by the First Amendment and Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. It also contends disclosures showed it could not remove every harmful item.
Broader litigation and context
Whistleblower testimony before Congress in 2021 raised concerns about the company’s awareness of harms. That testimony helped spur wider scrutiny of child and teen safety.
Thousands of lawsuits nationwide also accuse social platforms of designing addictive products that harm young people. Some filings seek damages in the tens of billions of dollars.
Closing arguments and next steps
State attorney Linda Singer urged jurors to hold the company accountable. She said jurors could consider awarding more than $2 billion in damages.
Judge Bryan Biedscheid is scheduled to oversee a May bench trial on separate public nuisance claims. The state will seek court orders requiring platform changes to comply with state law.
Filmogaz.com viewed trial coverage on Courtroom View Network during proceedings. Requests for immediate comment from the attorney general’s office were not returned.
