Meta Fined $375M in New Mexico Child Safety Case
Why this is here: The New Mexico jury reviewed testimony from 40 witnesses, including former Meta employees who came forward as whistleblowers, alongside hundreds of internal documents and emails.
Meta received a $375 million fine after a New Mexico court found it liable for endangering children on its social media platforms. The ruling followed a six-week trial in Santa Fe.
Meta allegedly failed to protect minors from sexual abuse and human trafficking. The company misled consumers about safety measures on Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.
New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez called the jury’s decision a victory for children and families. Torrez stated Meta prioritized profit over child safety and ignored warnings from employees. Meta disputes the verdict and plans to appeal the decision.
A second phase of the New Mexico case starts May 4th. A judge will consider additional penalties and required changes to Meta’s platforms. Meta also faces lawsuits regarding the impact of its platforms on youth mental health, including a case in California.