New Mexico asks judge to order Meta changes and $3.7 billion in second phase of youth-safety trial
Analytical frames for this storyTap to explore
The Facts
- Opening statements began Monday in the second phase of New Mexico's lawsuit against Meta, and this phase is being tried as a bench trial before a judge.
- New Mexico is asking the judge to declare Meta's Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp platforms a public nuisance and to order changes aimed at protecting young users.
- The state is seeking about $3.7 billion in remedies from Meta in this phase of the case.
- The lawsuit brought by New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez alleges that Meta designed its platforms in ways that addict young users and failed to protect children from sexual exploitation.
- This trial phase follows a March jury verdict that found Meta liable under New Mexico law and ordered the company to pay $375 million in civil penalties or damages.
- Meta has said it plans to appeal the earlier March verdict.
- Prosecutors are seeking court-ordered changes to Meta's products and algorithms, including measures related to addictive features, age verification and child-safety protections.
- A central unresolved issue in the bench trial is how broad any court-ordered remedy can be, with the judge expressing concern about overreaching while Meta argues against an injunction that would restructure its policies.
Context
What is this phase of the case deciding?
This phase is focused on remedies and public-nuisance claims: the judge is being asked to decide whether Meta's platforms constitute a public nuisance and, if so, what changes or payments should be ordered KSLTV.com,news.bloomberglaw.c…,Albuquerque Journal.
What happened in the first phase?
In March, a jury found Meta liable under New Mexico law for misleading users about child safety and ordered $375 million in penalties or damages; Meta has said it will appeal that verdict theepochtimes.com,KSLTV.com,Curated - BLOX Digi….
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Independent coverage (19)
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Mashable SEAParents on Instagram, Facebook: Expect a big message from Me...
Brigitte GabrielNew Mexico Attorney General Urges Judge to Force Meta to Pay...
Silicon UKNew Mexico Seeks Billions In Meta Public Nuisance Claim | Si...
ArkansasOnlineN.M. Meta trial begins second phase | Arkansas Democrat Gaze...
Lexington Herald LeaderMeta faces landmark trial in New Mexico with billion-dollar ...
News.azNew Mexico seeks sweeping changes to Meta platforms in youth...
TheStreetMeta faces landmark trial in New Mexico with billion-dollar ...
Economic TimesNew Mexico seeks $3.7 billion, changes to Meta platforms in ...
WBALNew Mexico and Meta return to court for bench trial over pub...
KOAT 7New Mexico and Meta return to court for bench trial over pub...
The Daily HeraldNew Mexico seeks $3.7 billion, changes to Meta platforms in...
www.theepochtimes.comNew Mexico Attorney General Urges Judge to Force Meta to Pay...
The ColumbianNew Mexico seeks child safety restrictions on Meta
Albuquerque JournalNew Mexico pushes Meta to fund $3.7B child mental health fix
news.bloomberglaw.comMeta Fights Public Nuisance Claims in New Mexico Bench Trial
Social Media Today | A business community for the web's best thinkers on Social MediaMeta threatens to withdraw its apps from New Mexico
Curated - BLOX Digital Content ExchangeJudge warns New Mexico prosecutors he won't 'overreach' as b...
The Spokesman ReviewNew Mexico seeks $3.7 billion, changes to Meta platforms in ...
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