New Mexico seeks nearly $1 billion from Meta following jury verdict

The New Mexico Department of Justice is pursuing nearly $1 billion from Meta Platforms, Inc., following a jury verdict that found the company liable for endangering children and misleading the public regarding the safety of its platforms. The jury had previously ordered Meta to pay the maximum civil penalty of $5,000 per violation, totaling $375 million, for violations of the state's Unfair Practices Act. A recent court filing requests that Meta pay $953 million into a fund aimed at supporting public education and behavioral health initiatives. New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez has accused Meta of prioritizing profits over children's safety and of enabling the exploitation of children through its platform design. A spokesperson for Meta responded by stating that the Attorney General's proposals could compromise teen safety and infringe on parental rights, asserting that the company is committed to providing safe experiences for users and has implemented various safety measures in the past year.