A New Mexico jury has ordered Meta to pay £280 million ($375 million) in civil penalties after finding the company liable for misleading consumers and knowingly endangering children. The verdict, delivered on 24 March 2026, marks the first time a state has successfully won a victory of this scale against a major technology firm regarding child safety.
A landmark ruling on child safety
The court determined that Meta, the parent organisation of Facebook and Instagram, violated New Mexico’s Unfair Practices Act. Jurors found the company engaged in "unconscionable" trade practices that exploited the psychological vulnerabilities and inexperience of young users. The £280 million penalty represents the maximum fine allowed under the current law, calculated at $5,000 for each individual violation across thousands of documented cases.
While the state’s Attorney General had initially sought damages totalling more than £1.5 billion, the jury’s decision to award the legal maximum sends a significant signal to the tech industry. The case focused on how Meta’s business model prioritised growth and engagement over the well-being and physical safety of its most vulnerable users.
Evidence of internal knowledge and platform design
Evidence presented during the trial revealed that Meta’s design features actively enabled sexual predators to target and exploit children. Internal documents and testimony from former employees suggested that the company was aware of these risks but failed to implement necessary safeguards. The prosecution argued that young users were frequently steered towards sexually explicit imagery and encouraged to join unmoderated groups.
Further testimony highlighted how Meta intentionally designed its platforms to be addictive. Internal communications showed that executives disregarded warnings from their own safety teams about algorithms that exposed teenagers to content related to eating disorders and self-harm. These revelations have intensified the global debate regarding the ethical responsibilities of social media companies and the long-term impact of their algorithms on youth mental health.
Legal consequences and Meta’s response
New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez stated that Meta executives were fully aware of the harm caused by their products but chose to lie to the public. He described the verdict as a necessary step in holding "Big Tech" accountable for corporate negligence. The Attorney General’s office noted that the evidence of misconduct was "overwhelming" and documented over several years of internal research.
Meta has confirmed it intends to appeal the decision, with a spokesperson stating that the company "respectfully disagrees" with the jury’s findings. The tech giant maintains that it has invested heavily in safety tools and age-verification technologies. Despite the appeal, a separate bench trial concerning a final claim against the company is scheduled to begin on 4 May, suggesting that Meta’s legal challenges in the United States are far from over.
