Meta-New Mexico

FILE - New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez speaks during a rally to protect kids online on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024.

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A New Mexico judge ordered new child safeguards for Meta. Advocates hope other courts follow

A New Mexico judge ordered new child safeguards for Meta. Advocates hope other courts follow

In a landmark ruling against Meta, a New Mexico judge likened the company’s social media platforms to factories. The psychological harm to children who use Facebook and Instagram, he said, can be seen as their pollution. Judge Bryan Biedscheid fined the company $567 million in his ruling Thursday, but he also ordered new safety measures including time limits for kids and AI chatbot restrictions. How easily those features can be implemented, and how effective they could be at protecting young users from mental health harms, are unresolved questions. But the judge’s order showed a possible path forward for other court fights around the country as Meta faces mounting legal challenges.