New Mexico Demands Platform Overhaul From Meta Following Jury Verdict

Following a landmark jury verdict holding Meta liable for its failure to adequately protect children on its platforms, New Mexico is pushing for significant operational changes from the social media giant. Attorney General Raúl Torrez articulated the state’s demands in a recent interview, emphasizing a shift from punitive measures to proactive reform.

“We are pursuing injunctive relief,” Torrez stated, outlining the next crucial phase of the legal proceedings focused on the state’s public nuisance claim. This involves a demand for concrete alterations to the core functionalities of Meta’s services.

The proposed remedies include implementing robust age verification systems, redesigning platform features to mitigate inherent risks, recalibrating algorithms that may contribute to addictive user behavior, and establishing an independent oversight body to ensure compliance. Fundamentally, the state seeks a paradigm shift in how Meta conducts its business within New Mexico, prioritizing user safety, particularly for minors.

The jury’s decision on Tuesday found Meta responsible for $375 million in damages, citing violations of New Mexico’s laws against unfair business practices. State attorneys successfully argued that Meta had actively misled residents about the security of its applications concerning child exploitation and the associated severe harms.

This verdict carries substantial implications, potentially influencing the trajectory of numerous similar social media litigation cases across the United States and serving as a catalyst for future regulatory frameworks. The pervasive issue of social media safety, especially for young users, has ignited critical legal debates, drawing parallels to the high-stakes ‘Big Tobacco’ litigation of the 1990s.

Meanwhile, a separate personal injury trial involving Meta and Google’s YouTube platform has seen a jury in Los Angeles Superior Court engaged in deliberations since March 12, underscoring the escalating legal scrutiny faced by major tech companies.

A Meta spokesperson expressed disappointment with the New Mexico ruling, stating, “We respectfully disagree with the verdict and will appeal.” The company reiterated its commitment to user safety, acknowledging the inherent complexities of moderating harmful content and identifying malicious actors. “We will continue to defend ourselves vigorously, and we remain confident in our record of protecting teens online,” the spokesperson added.

The second phase of the New Mexico trial, scheduled to commence on May 4 and not involving a jury, will determine whether Meta’s operations constitute a public nuisance and whether the company should be mandated to fund programs aimed at rectifying the alleged damages. Torrez indicated that the state would seek further financial remedies to address these harms and foster a secure digital environment for children.

Torrez elaborated on the state’s case, focusing on how Meta’s product design and associated environments were found to be both dangerous and addictive for young users. “We were able to demonstrate that the company’s own internal safety teams had been flagging these dangers for years,” he noted. “These warnings were repeatedly disregarded by Mark Zuckerberg and other senior executives. I believe that fundamentally was the decisive factor in this case.”

The Attorney General views the verdict as a clear message to the entire technology sector, urging Congress to enact comprehensive regulations for the digital landscape. The call for legislative action signals a growing consensus that industry self-regulation may no longer be sufficient to address the complex challenges posed by online platforms.

Contributing to this report was CNBC’s Jonathan Vanian.