yahoo news | New Mexico jury says Meta harms children's mental health and safety, violating...
A New Mexico jury found that Meta knowingly harmed children’s mental health and concealed what it knew about child sexual exploitation on its platforms, violating the state’s Unfair Practices Act. After a nearly seven‑week trial, jurors concluded that Meta—owner of Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp—prioritized profit over safety, made false or misleading statements, and engaged in “unconscionable” trade practices that exploited the vulnerabilities of minors. The verdict counted thousands of individual violations, amounting to a $375 million penalty.
Meta’s lawyers argued the company does disclose risks and works to remove harmful content, while acknowledging that some material slips through its safety net. The New Mexico case, filed by Attorney General Raúl Torrez in 2023, relied on an undercover investigation in which agents posing as children documented sexual solicitations and Meta’s responses. The ruling adds to a wave of litigation—over 40 states have sued Meta for allegedly designing addictive features that fuel a mental‑health crisis among youth—while existing legal protections such as Section 230 and the First Amendment remain points of contention.
The jury’s decision may lead to a second phase of the trial, potentially before a judge without a jury, to determine whether Meta created a public nuisance and to order remedial actions. Testimony during the trial highlighted internal Meta communications, whistleblower accounts, expert analyses, and the impact of platform algorithms that amplify sensational or harmful content. Prosecutors emphasized that Meta’s choices have profound negative effects on children, and the case signals increasing pressure on tech firms to take greater responsibility for the safety of young users.
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https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/mexico-jury-finds-meta-violated-211119198.html?fr=sycsrp_catchall
#newmexico #meta #section230 #whistleblower
