Meta, led by Mark Zuckerberg, is facing trial in New Mexico this week. This legal action follows a secret operation by New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torres, a Democrat supported by Soros.
The lawsuit, initiated by Attorney General Torres, accuses Meta of allowing illegal content and facilitating the sexual exploitation of minors through its platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. The allegations suggest that the company provided predators with easy access to underage users, which reportedly resulted in connections with victims and, in certain cases, led to abuse and human trafficking.
Jury selection is set to start on Monday in the Santa Fe District Court, with the trial anticipated to last between seven and eight weeks. This case marks the first time such allegations against Meta will be presented to a jury.
Meta has denied all accusations, asserting that it has established rigorous safety measures to protect young users on its platforms.
This case arose from a covert operation by AG Torres in 2023, during which state investigators created accounts on Facebook and Instagram that mimicked users under 14. These accounts received sexually explicit messages and were approached by adults seeking similar content. This operation led to criminal charges against three individuals.
In addition to exploitation claims, New Mexico has accused Meta of intentionally crafting its platform to maximize user engagement, even though there are signs these features could negatively impact children’s mental health. The complaint highlights concerns that features like infinite scrolling and autoplay videos keep young users engaged for too long, potentially fostering addictive behaviors that lead to anxiety, depression, and self-harm.
Internal documents indicate that Meta was aware of sexual exploitation and mental health issues, according to the state’s complaint. Despite this awareness, New Mexico alleges that Meta did not implement fundamental safety tools, such as age verification, and misrepresented the safety of its platform to the public.
The state is pursuing financial compensation and aims to obtain a court order mandating that Meta enhance the safety measures for children using its platform.
Before the trial, a Meta spokesperson described New Mexico’s claims as “sensationalist, irrelevant, and distracting,” arguing they were based on selected documents. The spokesperson added, “For over a decade, we have listened to parents, collaborated with experts and law enforcement, and conducted extensive research to address critical issues.” They also mentioned, “We are proud of our advancements and strive to keep improving.”
Meta contends that it is shielded from liability in this situation through the First Amendment’s protections and Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which generally protects online platforms from lawsuits regarding user-generated content. The company asserts that the claims of state harm cannot be separated from the content shared on its platform, as their algorithms and design influence what gets published.
A representative from the New Mexico Department of Justice expressed anticipation for the trial, stating that it would allow them to present comprehensive evidence collected over two years of litigation.
A recent report noted that Meta is also under scrutiny as part of a major lawsuit involving several prominent tech companies over issues related to teenage social media addiction.
