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New Mexico court delivers landmark verdict against Meta
A jury in New Mexico has ruled that Meta must pay $375 million (£279 million) for misleading users about the safety of its platforms for children, marking the first successful state lawsuit of its kind.
Jury finds Meta liable for endangering minors
The verdict, delivered after a seven-week trial, holds Meta accountable for exposing children to sexually explicit material and contact with predators on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. The jury concluded that Meta violated New Mexico's Unfair Practices Act by falsely representing the safety of its services for young users.
Internal documents and whistleblower testimony exposed risks
Prosecutors presented internal Meta research showing that 16% of Instagram users reported encountering unwanted nudity or sexual activity in a single week. Former employees, including whistleblower Arturo Béjar, testified about the company's awareness of predators targeting minors. Béjar, a former engineering leader who left Meta in 2021, revealed experiments demonstrating how Instagram's algorithms served sexualized content to underage users. He also disclosed that his own daughter had been propositioned for sex by a stranger on the platform.
Meta disputes verdict, plans appeal
A Meta spokesperson expressed disagreement with the ruling, stating, "We work hard to keep people safe on our platforms and are clear about the challenges of identifying and removing bad actors and harmful content. We remain confident in our record of protecting teens online." The company intends to appeal the decision.
"Meta executives knew their products harmed children, disregarded warnings from their own employees, and lied to the public about what they knew."
Raul Torrez, New Mexico Attorney General
Company highlights recent safety efforts
Meta pointed to initiatives like Teen Accounts, introduced in 2024, which provide young users with greater control over their experience. Last month, the company also launched a feature to alert parents if their children search for self-harm content. Despite these measures, critics argue they fall short of addressing systemic risks.
Penalty reflects thousands of violations
The $375 million fine was calculated based on thousands of violations of New Mexico's Unfair Practices Act, with each carrying a maximum penalty of $5,000. The lawsuit, filed in 2023, accused Meta of using recommendation algorithms to steer minors toward sexually explicit content, child sexual abuse material, and even sex trafficking.
Broader legal challenges loom
Meta faces additional legal scrutiny, including a separate trial in Los Angeles where a young woman alleges she became addicted to Instagram and YouTube as a child due to their design. Thousands of similar lawsuits are pending across U.S. courts, signaling growing pressure on tech companies to address platform safety.
Attorney General Torrez called the verdict a turning point, stating, "Today the jury joined families, educators, and child safety experts in saying enough is enough."
