ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO – A New Mexico jury has ruled that Meta violated state law in a civil lawsuit centered on child safety issues on its social media platforms.
The verdict follows a weeks‑long trial in Santa Fe examining whether Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, misled users about how safe its platforms are for children. Jurors found the company violated New Mexico’s Unfair Practices Act.
The lawsuit was brought by the New Mexico Attorney General’s Office, which argued Meta failed to adequately protect children and misrepresented safety features and protections. Meta denied the allegations and maintained that it has invested heavily in safety tools and enforcement.
The jury’s decision opens the door to significant civil penalties, which could total more than $2 billion. A second phase of the case, known as a bench trial, is scheduled for later this year. During that phase, a judge will determine additional penalties and whether Meta’s practices constitute a public nuisance under state law.
Meta has said it plans to challenge the verdict.
