New Mexico seeks child safety restrictions on Meta apps, algorithms in trial's 2nd phase

Lead

New Mexico state prosecutors are seeking fundamental changes to Meta’s social media apps and algorithms to safeguard children, in the second phase of a landmark trial that began Monday. The three-week bench trial before a judge in Santa Fe will decide whether Meta’s platforms—including Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp—constitute a public nuisance under state law, as reported by multiple sources.

The case stems from a lawsuit filed by New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez, a Democrat, accusing the social media giant of designing its products to addict young users and failing to protect children from sexual exploitation on its platforms. According to the South China Morning Post, Torrez’s lawsuit alleges that Meta knowingly harmed children’s mental health and concealed what it knew about child sexual exploitation.

Coverage Comparison

Coverage of the trial’s second phase has been consistent across outlets, though with varying emphases. The South China Morning Post framed the story around the potential sweeping changes to Meta’s operations, noting that the trial could prompt a judge to order significant modifications to how Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp function. The Hindu’s two reports focused on the prosecutorial action and Meta’s possible response, with one highlighting the public safety hazard allegations and the other emphasizing Meta’s threat to withdraw from the state.

All sources noted the previous jury order of $375 million in civil penalties against Meta, which was handed down in March after a jury found that Meta violated New Mexico’s consumer protection law by misrepresenting the safety of its platforms for young users. The jury also determined that Meta knowingly harmed children’s mental health and concealed information about child sexual exploitation on its platforms.

Key Claims

• Public nuisance allegations: The trial will determine whether Meta’s platforms pose a public nuisance under New Mexico law, according to multiple sources. If the judge makes such a finding, it could allow for wide-ranging remedies aimed at curbing alleged harms to young users.
• Seeking fundamental changes: New Mexico prosecutors are asking the court to order fundamental changes to Meta’s apps and algorithms to protect children, as reported by several outlets. The specific remedies sought have not been detailed in the coverage available.
• Meta’s potential withdrawal: Meta has raised the possibility of shutting down its social media services in New Mexico in response to the push for changes, according to a report from The Hindu. This claim has been carried by a single source and has not been independently verified.
• Prior jury verdict: A jury previously ordered Meta to pay $375 million in civil penalties after finding the company violated the state’s consumer protection law. This fact is confirmed by multiple sources.
• Meta’s investor warning: Meta warned investors that legal and regulatory challenges in the European Union and the US could “significantly impact our business and financial results,” according to the South China Morning Post. This warning was issued in a securities filing and is attributed to the company’s own statement.

Perspectives

Prosecutors’ perspective: Attorney General Raúl Torrez and New Mexico prosecutors argue that Meta has designed its products to addict young users and failed to protect them from sexual exploitation, making the platforms a public nuisance that requires judicial intervention.

Meta’s perspective: While Meta has acknowledged the legal proceedings, it has not publicly commented on the specific allegations in the trial. The company has warned investors about the potential business impact of regulatory and legal actions, and has signaled that it might consider withdrawing its services from New Mexico if the court imposes remedies it deems untenable.

Broader context: The case is part of a wider trend of states, municipalities, and school districts across the US pursuing similar claims against social media companies, seeking to force industry-level changes to protect minors. The outcome of this trial could influence those efforts.