New Mexico Court Orders Meta to Pay $375 Million Fine Over User Deception and Failure to Protect Children

New Mexico. A New Mexico state court has issued a landmark ruling against Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. The court ordered Meta to pay a fine of $375 million after finding that the company misled users about safety issues and failed to prevent child sexual exploitation.

New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez filed the lawsuit, accusing Meta of prioritizing profit over child safety. Following deliberation, the jury concluded that Meta violated consumer protection laws.

Attorney General Torrez described this victory as a historic win for every child and family. He stated that the court's decision proves that no company is above the law. During the six-week trial, lawyers advocating for the state alleged that Meta had failed to operate honestly and transparently for a decade and had taken no concrete steps to protect the younger generation.

Meta has announced its intention to appeal this court decision, expressing disagreement with the ruling. A Meta spokesperson claimed that the company is working hard to keep its platforms safe and is always active in removing harmful content. Meta's lawyers asserted that the company did not knowingly lie to the public and had deployed sufficient mechanisms for safety.

The second phase of this case is scheduled for May, during which the Attorney General's office will ask the court to mandate necessary changes for child safety on Meta's platforms and impose further financial penalties. Previously, the state had sought damages exceeding $2 billion.

Meta is currently facing thousands of similar lawsuits across the United States, alleging that social media addiction is causing a mental health crisis among young people.

Questions about Meta's safety mechanisms began to surface globally after a whistleblower provided testimony to Congress in 2021. This ruling in New Mexico is estimated to have a significant impact on ongoing lawsuits in other states. It is estimated