The New Mexico Department of Justice is pursuing nearly $1 billion from Meta, Facebook’s parent company, after a jury found the company liable for putting children at risk and misleading the public about its platform’s safety. This ruling came last month, resulting in a maximum civil penalty of $375 million for violating the state’s Unfair Practices Act.
According to reports, the recent court filing aims to compel Meta to contribute approximately $953 million to a fund dedicated to supporting educational and behavioral health initiatives.
New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torres previously accused Meta’s leaders of prioritizing profits over child safety, disregarding internal warnings, and misrepresenting their awareness of potential dangers. He claimed the company designed certain features that enabled predators to exploit children on their platform.
Torres also stated that Meta’s app was deliberately designed to be addictive for younger users, exposing them to harmful content related to self-harm and eating disorders. Interestingly, the state had initially sought a much larger amount but later requested a reduction of over 90% from that original figure.
A spokesperson for Meta responded by criticizing the attorney general’s approach during the trial, suggesting that the proposed mandates could endanger teenagers, infringe on parental rights, and suppress free speech. They noted that even the judge acknowledged the potential overreach of these mandates.
The spokesperson emphasized that Meta is dedicated to creating a safe and age-appropriate user experience, revealing that they’ve already implemented many safety measures, including 13 new ones within the last year. However, it’s worth considering—are these measures sufficient, or are deeper changes needed?
