A jury in New Mexico ruled that Meta Platforms violated state law in a case brought by the attorney general, who accused the company of misleading users about the safety of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, while also enabling child sexual exploitation on those platforms. After less than a day of deliberation, the jury concluded that Meta breached the state’s consumer protection law and ordered it to pay $375 million in civil penalties.

This decision is the first time a jury has ruled on such allegations against Meta, which is currently facing numerous lawsuits over the impact of its platforms on young users’ mental health. Meta stated it disagrees with the ruling and plans to appeal, emphasizing its ongoing efforts to keep users safe despite challenges in removing harmful content. Meanwhile, New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez described the verdict as a major win for children and families, criticizing the company for prioritizing profits over safety.

The trial, which lasted six weeks in Santa Fe, included claims that Meta allowed predators to easily connect with minors, sometimes leading to real-world abuse and trafficking. State attorneys argued that Meta repeatedly failed to act transparently or protect young users, while Meta’s defense maintained that it has strong safeguards and clear disclosures in place.

The lawsuit stemmed from a 2023 undercover investigation in which officials created fake accounts posing as users under 14. These accounts were quickly exposed to explicit content and contacted by adults, resulting in several criminal cases. The state alleged that Meta was aware of these risks through internal documents but failed to implement basic protections like effective age verification.

The state accused Meta of designing its platforms to maximize user engagement through features such as infinite scrolling and autoplay, which it claims contribute to addictive behavior and mental health issues among children. The jury found tens of thousands of violations, awarding $5,000 for each.

A second phase of the case, scheduled for May, will determine whether Meta must make structural changes to its platforms and face further financial penalties. The company continues to face widespread legal challenges across the United States related to youth safety and alleged addictive design practices, even as it argues that it is protected under free speech laws and existing regulations governing online content.