Meta Ordered To Pay $375 Million In New Mexico Child Safety Case; Public Nuisance Trial Underway

A New Mexico court ordered Meta to pay $375 million in civil penalties after a jury found the company violated state consumer protection laws by misleading consumers about child safety protections on its social media platforms. The verdict was issued on March 24, 2026, under New Mexico’s Unfair Practices Act. The penalties were assessed at $5,000 per violation.

The case was brought by the New Mexico Department of Justice, which alleged that Meta’s platforms endangered children by failing to adequately protect minors from sexual exploitation, online solicitation, and harmful content related to self-harm and eating disorders . . .