A courtroom in New Mexico just shook the tech world after a jury ruled that Meta harmed children’s mental health and safety.
Jurors in Santa Fe sided with state prosecutors after a nearly seven-week trial, saying Meta knowingly concealed risks tied to child safety and exploitation. They found the company violated the state’s Unfair Practices Act while also engaging in “unconscionable” trade practices that took advantage of young users.
The decision comes with a $375 million penalty tied to thousands of violations, each counted separately. Prosecutors argued that Meta prioritized engagement and profits, while internal systems allowed harmful content and dangerous interactions to reach minors.
“We know the output is meant to be engagement and time spent for kids,” prosecution attorney Linda Singer said. “That choice that Meta made has profound negative impacts on kids.”
Meta is pushing back and plans to fight the ruling.
“We respectfully disagree with the verdict and will appeal,” a Meta spokesperson said. “We work hard to keep people safe on our platforms and are clear about the challenges of identifying and removing bad actors or harmful content.”
The case also pulled back the curtain on internal documents, whistleblower testimony, and undercover investigations where agents posed as children online. Prosecutors said those findings showed gaps in enforcement and safety systems.
“What this case is about is one of the biggest tech companies in the world taking advantage of New Mexico teens,” said Chief Deputy Attorney General James Grayson.
Now, a second phase could force changes to how Meta operates, while similar lawsuits continue building across the country.
