Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta Inc. has indicated it may close down Facebook and Instagram in New Mexico if a judge mandates new safety features, as outlined in a court document submitted Thursday.
This warning from Meta follows a recent New Mexico jury verdict that imposed a $375 million civil penalty, stating the company did not adequately safeguard children from sexual predators using its platform. A judge is expected to determine the necessary changes for Meta during the next phase of the trial, scheduled for May 4.
In its filing, Meta expressed that the state’s demands are overly broad and burdensome, suggesting that compliance might force the company to entirely withdraw its app from New Mexico. “It doesn’t make economic or technical sense for us to create a separate application just for users in New Mexico,” a lawyer for Meta noted. They argued that it wouldn’t be feasible for Meta to guarantee the integrity required by the state’s laws.
New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez sharply criticized Meta’s stance, claiming it demonstrates the company’s lack of concern for child safety. He stated, “Meta’s refusal to follow laws that protect children reveals everything about this company’s values.” Torrez added that Meta is fully capable of making the proposed changes.
Pointing out past behaviors, he remarked, “The company has adapted its rules and products to align with the demands of various entities while consistently putting profit and engagement above children’s safety.”
Prosecutors in New Mexico plan to argue for several protective measures aimed at young users, including implementing effective age verification for accounts and developing a recommendation system that prioritizes user safety instead of merely maximizing time spent on the platform.
They’re also suggesting the inclusion of warning labels about app usage risks, barring adults linked to child abuse from the platform, and establishing an independent board for oversight of compliance.
A Meta representative responded to these demands by stating that they are “realistically impossible for any company to satisfy without disregarding the nature of the Internet.” The spokesperson also mentioned that focusing on a single platform overlooks the multitude of other apps teenagers use, which leaves parents without necessary support. “If a reasonable resolution to Attorney General Torrez’s requests isn’t found, we might have no choice but to completely prevent New Mexico users from accessing our services,” they stated.
Meta has previously expressed disagreement with the jury’s decision and plans to appeal. In March, a spokesperson for Meta downplayed the $375 million penalty, referring to it as a small portion of what the state had originally sought, which was a $2 billion fine for breaking state laws.
The ongoing legal disputes in New Mexico represent just one of the issues facing Meta, which recently lost a significant case in Los Angeles involving allegations that Instagram and YouTube contributed to a young woman’s worsening mental health. Meta also faces multiple lawsuits from school districts, state officials, and individuals, with the first of these trials anticipated to start in June.
