Jury in New Mexico finds Meta liable for endangering children

(Patria) - A jury in the US state of New Mexico has found social media giant Meta liable for endangering children by making them vulnerable to predators on its platforms and other dangers.

The verdict came after about a day of deliberations, following a six-week trial in which the state accused the parent company of Facebook and Instagram of failing to protect minors from sexual abuse, online grooming, and human trafficking, AFP reported.

The state sought a maximum of $2.2 billion in damages, and the jury awarded $375 million.

The case, tried in a Santa Fe court, is among the first to involve social media platforms and child safety that has resulted in a jury verdict.
“The jury’s verdict is a historic victory for every child and family who has paid the price for Meta’s choice to put profit ahead of children’s safety,” said New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez, who brought the case.

“Meta executives knew their products were harming children, ignored warnings from their own employees, and lied to the public about what they knew,” he added.
Meta has stated it will appeal the decision.

“We respectfully disagree with the verdict and will be appealing,” said a company spokesperson. “We work hard to protect people on our platforms and are clear about the challenges of identifying and removing malicious actors or harmful content.”

The jury reached its verdict after a trial that heard from forty witnesses, including whistleblowers, and reviewed hundreds of documents, reports, and emails.

In 2023, Torrez filed a lawsuit against Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, and CEO Mark Zuckerberg, alleging that the company failed to protect children from online dangers.

During closing arguments, prosecutor Linda Singer told jurors that Meta's algorithms directed adults towards content posted by teenage users, while the company concealed internal findings about risks to young people.
The jury found that Meta violated the state's Unfair Practices Act by misleading consumers about the safety of its products for children.

The second phase of the proceedings is expected to begin on May 4, when a judge will hear the state's request for Meta to be ordered to pay additional penalties and implement specific changes to its platforms and business operations.

A separate jury in California is considering whether Meta and YouTube should be held liable for harm caused to children on their platforms, including addiction. That case is seen as an indicator that could influence the outcome of thousands of similar lawsuits against social media companies across the United States.