A New Mexico jury delivered a landmark ruling on Tuesday, ordering Meta the parent company of Facebook and Instagram to pay $375 million in damages.
The verdict stems from a lawsuit filed by state Attorney General Raúl Torrez, who accused the tech giant of violating New Mexico’s consumer protection law by misleading users about platform safety and enabling child sexual exploitation.Jurors determined that Meta failed to adequately protect children from predators, prioritizing profits over safety.
“The jury’s verdict is a historic victory for every child and family who has paid the price for Meta’s choice to put profits over kids’ safety,” Torrez declared. He highlighted that Meta executives ignored internal warnings from their own employees and deceived the public about known risks.
This decision marks the first time a state has won a trial against a major tech company on claims of harming children through its social media platforms, according to the New Mexico State Justice Department. The ruling underscores growing legal scrutiny on Big Tech’s responsibility for user safety, particularly for vulnerable young users.