New Mexico jury has ordered Meta Platforms to pay $375 million in civil penalties after finding the company violated state consumer protection laws by misleading users about the safety of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp for children.
The March 2026 verdict stemmed from a lawsuit filed by Attorney General Raúl Torrez, who accused Meta of enabling child sexual exploitation through inadequate safeguards. Jurors determined Meta committed thousands of violations each carrying a maximum $5,000 fine after reviewing internal documents and employee testimonies revealing the company’s awareness of predator risks.
Meta has denied wrongdoing and plans to appeal, calling the arguments “sensationalist.” The penalty, while significant, pales against Meta’s $201 billion 2025 revenue and is seen as a fraction of what prosecutors sought.
The case now enters a pivotal remedies phase, starting May 4, 2026, in Santa Fe. New Mexico seeks sweeping changes, including mandatory age verification for minors, bans on end-to-end encryption for users under 18, and daily usage limits of 90 minutes for kids. Meta warns these measures are technically unfeasible, privacy-invasive, and could force it to exit the state.
A ruling here could impose billions in compliance costs and set precedents for similar lawsuits nationwide, potentially reshaping social media operations. Meta insists it has already bolstered youth protections.
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