Meta is in a New Mexico court for the second phase of a child safety case that could force the company to pay billions and alter its platforms in the state. The trial began Monday and is expected to last three weeks, focusing on whether Meta's actions created a public nuisance under state law [1].
The case was brought by New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez, who accuses Meta of failing to protect children on Facebook and Instagram from sexual predators and misleading the public about the apps' harms. He aims to impose changes that would "fundamentally restructure how Meta is allowed to do business in the state," Torrez said [1].
In March, a New Mexico jury ruled that Meta willfully violated the state's unfair practices act and ordered the company to pay $375 million. That verdict stands as the trial moves into the next phase without a jury [1].
Meta has stated the attorney general seeks approximately $3.7 billion in abatement costs plus injunctive relief requiring significant changes to product features and services in New Mexico. The company described these demands as including "requests for extensive changes to the manner in which we provide our services in New Mexico" [1].
The state wants Meta to implement effective age-verification technologies, modify recommendation algorithms, and make other adjustments aimed at enhancing child safety on its platforms [1].
This new bench trial phase will determine if Meta is legally liable as a public nuisance and whether the requested remedies should be imposed. The hearing is scheduled to run through late May.
