Meta Ordered to Pay USD 375 Million in Landmark New Mexico Child Safety Lawsuit
Meta was ordered to pay USD 375 million by a New Mexico jury for failing to protect children from exploitation on its platforms.Summary
A New Mexico jury has ordered Meta to pay USD 375 million in civil penalties after finding the company violated state consumer protection laws and failed to prevent child exploitation on Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. The verdict followed an undercover investigation where accounts posing as children received sexually explicit material and were contacted by potential predators. The state argued Meta was aware of these risks but didn't implement adequate safety measures, such as age verification.
Meta plans to appeal the decision, having previously attempted to dismiss the case citing Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, but was unsuccessful. The company maintains it has robust safety measures in place and did not intentionally mislead the public.
A second phase of the trial, scheduled for May 2026, will determine if Meta’s operations constitute a “public nuisance,” with the Attorney General seeking court-ordered platform changes, including improved age verification and predator account removal. This case is one of thousands of similar lawsuits nationwide concerning youth mental health and platform addiction.
(Source：Latestly)