Meta New Mexico Lawsuit

The first stand-alone trial from state prosecutors in a stream of lawsuits against Meta is getting underway in New Mexico. Jury selection begins Monday. Stemming from an undercover investigation, the case could give states a new legal pathway to go after social media companies over how their platforms affect children, by using consumer protection and nuisance laws. An expert in tech law say a verdict could have broad ripple effects. Meta — the owner of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp — says New Mexico's top prosecutor has taken a sensationalist approach. State investigators created proxy social media accounts and posed as kids to document sexual solicitations and Meta's response when notified.

Meta is on trial in New Mexico to answer allegations that its social media platforms enable predators to target children for sexual exploitation. The case is one of a series of lawsuits nationwide accusing social media companies of not doing enough to protect children online. New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez sued Meta in 2023 alleging its platforms enable predators to target children for sexual exploitation. Meta denies the allegation and accuses prosecutors of taking a “sensationalist” approach. The trial is expected to highlight explicit online content and its effects on young people.

Mark Zuckerberg and opposing lawyers dueled in a Los Angeles courtroom Wednesday, where the Meta CEO answered questions about young people’s use of Instagram, his congressional testimony and internal advice he’s received to be “authentic” and not “robotic.” The plaintiff, a now 20-year-old woman, is seeking to hold social media companies responsible for harms to children who use their platforms. Meta and YouTube are the two remaining defendants in the case, which TikTok and Snap settled.