New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez issued a statement on the recent jury ruling in the Los Angeles County JCCP trial against Meta, calling the verdict a significant step toward holding technology companies accountable for child safety concerns.
“Today’s verdict is another critical step toward justice that puts Meta and other big tech executives on notice that they cannot evade responsibility for design choices that jeopardize child safety. Juries in New Mexico and California have recognized that Meta’s public deception and design features are putting children in harm’s way. In the next phase of New Mexico’s trial, my number one priority remains changing the company’s longstanding and dangerous practice of prioritizing profits over children’s safety. We will seek court-mandated changes to Meta’s platforms that offer protections for kids,” according to Attorney General Torrez.
Following this week’s verdict, New Mexico became the first state to win at trial against a major technology company for harming young people. The jury ordered Meta to pay $5,000 per violation, totaling $375 million in civil penalties for violating New Mexico consumer protection laws.
The final claim by the New Mexico Department of Justice against Meta will be addressed in a bench trial scheduled to begin May 4. During this phase, officials will argue their public nuisance case and seek injunctive relief requiring Meta to pay additional damages and implement specific changes such as effective age verification, removal of predators from platforms, and protections for minors from encrypted communications.
The office of the New Mexico Attorney General serves as the chief legal officer for the state and provides services across all counties, according to the official website. The office advances justice through civil litigation and criminal prosecutions, coordinates with local law enforcement agencies for public safety efforts, fosters trust via community outreach initiatives, seeks to protect consumers, supports law enforcement, and upholds the rule of law as reported by the official website.
Further details about these actions can be found on the official roster page.
