New Mexico Seeks $1 Billion from Meta Over Child Safety Violations

The New Mexico Department of Justice has filed for nearly $1 billion from Facebook’s parent company, Meta, after a state jury found Meta liable last month for endangering children and misleading the public about the safety of its platforms.

Following the verdict, Meta was penalized with the maximum civil punishment of $5,000 per violation as per the state’s Unfair Practices Act, amounting to $375 million. A recent court filing requests Meta to contribute $953 million into a fund aimed at supporting public education and behavioral health, as reported by SourceNM.

Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, during a Senate Judiciary Committee session on January 31, 2024, focused on the dangers of child sexual exploitation on social media (Alex Wong/Getty Images).

New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez claimed that Meta executives prioritized profit over children’s safety, ignoring employee warnings, and deceiving the public about their internal findings.

Torrez pointed out that Meta’s platform designs facilitated predators in exploiting children sexually. He noted that the apps were intentionally made to be addictive, exposing children to harmful content related to self-harm and eating disorders.

Prosecutors accused Meta of maintaining unsafe platforms for children and misleading the public (Anna Barclay/Getty Images).

The requested compensation amount from the state reduced by over 90% from the initial demands.

A spokesperson from Meta stated that New Mexico’s case included mandates that may compromise teen safety, infringe on parental rights, and limit free expression. The spokesperson highlighted that even the judge indicated these mandates could be “overreach.” They argued that the case overlooked other apps used by teens and failed to provide necessary scientific or legal justification. Meta reiterated their commitment to safe, age-appropriate experiences, mentioning the implementation of 13 safety measures last year.

Meta, owner of Instagram, was found negligent for creating mental health distress in a young user in a ruling by a Los Angeles jury in March (Joan Cros/NurPhoto via Getty Images).

For further news and updates, check the Fox News app.

Alexandra Koch is a journalist for Fox News Digital, focusing on breaking news and significant national events that influence conversations nationwide. She has covered crises like the L.A. wildfires, Potomac and Hudson River aviation disasters, Boulder terror attack, and Texas Hill Country floods.