Meta Fined $375 Million in New Mexico Trial Over Child Exploitation Case
Jury finds company misled users on Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp safety, marking a landmark ruling over child exploitation claims.
Staff WriterMar 25, 2026, 9:16 AMA New Mexico jury has ordered Meta Platforms to pay $375 million after finding the company violated state law by misleading users about the safety of its platforms and enabling child sexual exploitation. The verdict follows a six-week trial in Santa Fe, where the state attorney general accused Meta of failing to protect children on Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.
After less than a day of deliberation, the jury concluded that Meta had engaged in unfair and deceptive trade practices under New Mexico’s consumer protection law. The ruling marked the first time a jury has addressed such claims against the social media giant, which faces multiple lawsuits over its platforms’ impact on youth mental health.
“We respectfully disagree with the verdict and will appeal,” a Meta spokesperson said. “We work hard to keep people safe and are transparent about the challenges of removing harmful content.”
New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez called the decision “a historic victory for every child and family affected by Meta’s choice to prioritise profits over safety.” He added that the jury’s damages should signal to tech executives that no company is beyond the reach of the law. Torrez’s office plans a second phase in May, seeking court-ordered platform changes and additional penalties.
The case stems from a 2023 undercover investigation in which state agents created accounts for users under 14, exposing them to sexually explicit material and contact from predators. Evidence presented at trial included internal Meta documents acknowledging risks of sexual exploitation and mental health harm, while the company continued to market its platforms as safe for children.
The jury found Meta knowingly exploited a lack of awareness among New Mexico residents, awarding $5,000 per violation across 75,000 violations. In addition to civil penalties, the state will pursue a trial without a jury to address claims that Meta created a public nuisance harming health and safety.
Meta has argued that Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act and free-speech protections shield it from liability, but the judge rejected these arguments for the trial to proceed.
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