A New Mexico jury has found Meta Platforms Inc., the parent company of Facebook, liable for violations of consumer protection laws, resulting in a $375 million civil penalty. The case focused on allegations that Meta’s design and business practices knowingly endangered children and misled consumers about online safety on its social media platforms. The decision marks a significant milestone in the ongoing legal challenges faced by tech companies concerning child safety.
The legal action, initiated by New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez, asserted that Meta had enabled child exploitation and issued false statements about child safety, violating the state’s Unfair Practices Act. This legislation prohibits deceptive business practices, including misleading advertising and false claims. Evidence presented in court highlighted how Meta’s platform features inadvertently facilitated child sexual exploitation, with company executives allegedly aware of these risks. New Mexico’s role as the first state to achieve such a verdict underscores the growing scrutiny tech giants face regarding their impact on younger users.
Raúl Torrez commended the jury’s decision, emphasizing the need for accountability and further regulatory measures to safeguard minors. He declared the ruling a milestone victory, expressing intentions to pursue additional penalties and mandate significant changes to Meta’s operations. Proposed reforms include robust age verification processes and protective measures against malicious activities targeting children. These steps are to be further debated in a scheduled bench trial [New Mexico Court Case](https://www.jurist.org/news/2026/03/us-state-court-fines-meta-for-violating-new-mexico-consumer-protection-law-in-child-safety-case/) on May 4.
Meta’s legal challenges are not isolated to the United States. In Australia, lawmakers recently enacted a prohibition on social media use by individuals under 16, citing similar concerns about child safety and online harm. Additionally, several Canadian school boards have pursued litigation against social media firms, alleging disruptions in education due to addictive technologies marketed to youths. New York has also taken legislative action by prohibiting the use of addictive recommendation algorithms by users under 18.
Amidst these global legal and regulatory pressures, Meta continues to face lawsuits claiming their platforms contribute to physical and psychological harm among younger users. The company is also embroiled in a landmark California case addressing the liability of tech firms concerning children’s addiction to social media. The evolving legal landscape presents ongoing challenges for technology companies as they navigate regulatory expectations and public concern regarding children’s online safety.
For more information and updates on this legal precedent, see the original coverage by JURIST.