A trial that people are watching carefully begins Monday and could bring about big changes to how Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp are used within New Mexico. Meta has said the child safety improvements the state wants are so extreme, they might make it impossible to continue offering services in New Mexico. The judge’s decision will likely be a very important standard for social media companies.
New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez’s lawsuit says Meta intentionally designed its products to hook young people, and didn’t do enough to prevent kids from being sexually abused. The question is whether Meta’s platforms are a “public nuisance” according to New Mexico law, and if they are, a lot of things could be done to fix the problem.
What is at stake in New Mexico
If the judge says Meta’s platforms are a public nuisance, the court could tell Meta to completely change the features on Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp that affect how young people in New Mexico use them. Meta says many of the changes asked for can’t be done and may even force them to leave the state.
Meta has also warned people who invest in the company that legal and government issues in the European Union and the United States could seriously harm its business and profits, and this case shows just how much is at stake.
How the case reached this stage
This hearing on Monday is the second part of New Mexico’s lawsuit. In March, a jury said Meta broke New Mexico’s laws protecting consumers by pretending that Facebook and Instagram were safe for young people, and told the company to pay $375 million.
According to documents filed with the court, the case will now go to a judge starting May 4th in Santa Fe. The judge will decide if they should approve major changes and order Meta to pay even more money.
What the state wants Meta to change
New Mexico wants to get billions of dollars in damages, and to make big changes to the platforms for young people. The suggested changes are aimed at the designs that cause addiction and dangerous contacts, and at reducing the amount of time kids spend on the apps when they should be at school or sleeping.
The state is pressing for these remedies:
– Stricter age verification for all users
– Blocking access for users under 13
– Linking minor accounts to guardians
– Limiting interactions between adults and minors
– Restricting recommendation algorithms for minors
– Disabling autoplay for young users
– Capping time spent on the apps
– Limiting notifications during school and sleep hours
Meta’s warning to the court
Meta claims it has already dealt with many of the state’s worries and has done a lot to make the apps safer for young users. In recent court papers, the company said that several of the suggested changes are impossible to make and could mean they have to remove their services from New Mexico completely.
New Mexico is planning to ask for $3.7 billion to pay for a 15-year mental health program, including new buildings and more mental health professionals. Meta says this would mean they’d have to pay for mental health care for all teens in the state, even if their problems aren’t caused by the apps.
Attorney General Raul Torrez responded to Meta’s threat to leave by saying that Meta is “showing the world how little it cares about child safety.” Torrez said Meta’s refusal to follow laws that protect children says everything you need to know about the company and its leaders.
Why it matters beyond New Mexico
The case is being followed closely because states, cities, and school districts all over the U.S. are making similar claims, hoping to force the whole industry to change. A firm ruling in New Mexico could influence the way regulations are made and how future lawsuits are filed in other places.
On Wednesday, Meta told investors that legal and regulatory problems in the EU and the US “could significantly impact our business and financial results.” The upcoming trial with a judge will decide if major changes happen in New Mexico, and could affect how all platforms handle child safety across the country.
