New Mexico Jury Orders Meta to Pay $375 Million Over Child Safety

Attorney General Raúl Torrez hailed the ruling as a historic victory, accusing Meta of misleading parents and facilitating child exploitation on platforms like Facebook and Instagram. Torrez intends to pursue further financial penalties and court-mandated design changes during the next phase of litigation. Josh Golin, executive director of the nonprofit Fairplay, described the verdict as long-awaited validation that the company’s business model inherently risks the wellbeing of its youngest users.

Meta has vowed to appeal the decision, maintaining that it remains committed to protecting teens and identifying bad actors. The company currently faces thousands of similar lawsuits nationwide, with plaintiffs seeking damages in the tens of billions of dollars. While advocates push for federal intervention through the Kids Online Safety Act, some civil rights groups warn that the proposed legislation could inadvertently stifle free expression and access to vital health information.