Meta ordered to pay $942 million in landmark New Mexico child-safety case

Summary

Meta Platforms was ordered to pay a combined approximately $942 million following a landmark New Mexico child-safety case concerning Facebook and Instagram. The New Mexico Department of Justice filed its lawsuit against Meta Platforms and CEO Mark Zuckerberg in December 2023 after conducting an undercover investigation into Facebook and Instagram. New Mexico alleged that Meta's platforms exposed children to serious risks including sexual exploitation, solicitation by adults, harmful content, addictive platform design and other dangers to minors. Investigators created decoy accounts representing children aged 14 and younger. According to the New Mexico Department of Justice, investigators found that Meta's platforms could direct sexually explicit material to underage users, enable adults to contact and solicit children, recommend groups associated with commercial sexual activity, and facilitate the distribution of child sexual abuse material. The state also alleged that Meta's platform design harmed children and teenagers through addictive features and recommendation systems that negatively affected mental health, self-worth and physical safety. The case proceeded to trial in 2026. In March 2026, a New Mexico jury found against Meta and imposed approximately $375 million in civil penalties. The verdict concerned violations of New Mexico consumer-protection law and findings that Meta had misled consumers regarding the safety of its platforms for children. Following a second phase of the proceedings concerning remedies and injunctive relief, the First Judicial District Court entered a final judgment in August 2026. The court ordered Meta to pay an additional $567 million and imposed extensive court-supervised reforms intended to protect children using Facebook and Instagram. Combined with the earlier jury award, the financial consequences of the New Mexico proceeding amounted to approximately $942 million. The court-supervised protections require substantial changes to Meta's treatment of users under 18 in New Mexico. Measures described by the New Mexico Department of Justice include stronger age-assurance mechanisms, safety and privacy protections for minors, restrictions intended to prevent adults from locating and contacting underage users, changes to recommendation algorithms, restrictions on addictive platform features, limits on notifications during school and nighttime hours, stronger parental controls and increased transparency regarding risks to young users. The remedies also contemplate independent monitoring and testing of Meta's safety systems and platform practices. The New Mexico case is particularly significant because it resulted in an adverse jury verdict and final court judgment rather than merely a settlement of allegations. Primary sources: New Mexico Department of Justice — Court Orders Meta to Pay $942 Million and Overhaul Protections for Children on Facebook and Instagram: https://nmdoj.gov/press-releases/ New Mexico Department of Justice — Meta Ordered to Pay $567 Million in New Mexico Child Safety Case: https://nmdoj.gov/news/meta-ordered-to-pay-567-million-in-new-mexico-child-safety-case/ New Mexico Department of Justice — Attorney General Raúl Torrez Files Lawsuit Against Meta Platforms and Mark Zuckerberg to Protect Children from Sexual Abuse and Human Trafficking: https://nmdoj.gov/press-release/attorney-general-raul-torrez-files-lawsuit-against-meta-platforms-and-mark-zuckerberg-to-protect-children-from-sexual-abuse-and-human-trafficking/