New Mexico jury finds Meta violated protection law over exploitation claims
The landmark decision comes after a nearly seven-week trial. Jurors sided with state prosecutors who argued that Meta prioritized profits over safety.
Updated on: March 24, 2026 / 7:37 PM EDT / CBS/AP
A New Mexico jury found Tuesday that social media conglomerate Meta is harmful to children's mental health and in violation of state consumer protection law.
The jury agreed with allegations that Meta made false or misleading statements and also agreed that Meta engaged in "unconscionable" trade practices that unfairly took advantage of the vulnerabilities of and inexperience of children.
Jurors found there were thousands of violations, each counting separately toward a penalty of $375 million.
Attorneys for Meta said the company discloses risks and makes efforts to weed out harmful content and experiences, while acknowledging that some bad material gets through its safety net.