Reuters: A New Mexico jury has found Meta Platforms violated state law in a lawsuit accusing the company of misleading users about the safety of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, and enabling child sexual exploitation on its platforms.
After less than a day of deliberation, the jury ruled that Meta violated the state’s consumer protection law and ordered it to pay $375 million in civil penalties. The state had sought more than $2 billion.New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez called the verdict a “historic victory,” saying it sends a clear message that tech companies will be held accountable for user safety. Meta said it disagrees with the verdict and will appeal, adding that it has safeguards in place to protect users and works to remove harmful content.
The case followed a six-week trial in Santa Fe, where the state argued Meta allowed predators to access underage users, sometimes leading to real-world abuse. Meta denied the claims, saying it has strong safety measures and transparency.
The lawsuit stemmed from a 2023 undercover investigation in which state officials created accounts posing as users under 14. These accounts reportedly received explicit content and were contacted by adults, leading to criminal charges against several individuals.
The jury found 75,000 violations, imposing a penalty of $5,000 per violation. A second phase of the trial is scheduled for May, where the court will consider ordering changes to Meta’s platforms, including stronger age verification and removal of harmful actors.
Meta is also facing multiple lawsuits across the United States over claims that its platforms harm young users’ mental health and are designed to be addictive.
