Meta faces trial in New Mexico that could force major platform changes

A trial set to begin in New Mexico could lead to sweeping changes in how Meta Platforms operates Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, with the company warning it may withdraw from the state if required measures are imposed, as per foreign media reports.

The case, to be heard by a judge in Santa Fe, stems from a lawsuit filed by New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez, who accuses the company of designing its platforms to addict young users and failing to protect children from sexual exploitation.

At the center of the trial is whether Meta’s platforms constitute a “public nuisance” under state law, a determination that could allow the judge to impose broad remedies aimed at reducing harm to minors.

The proceedings mark the second phase of the case. In March, a jury found that Meta violated New Mexico’s consumer protection law by misrepresenting the safety of Facebook and Instagram for young users, ordering the company to pay $375 million in damages.

Torrez’s office is now expected to seek billions of dollars more in damages, along with court-mandated changes to Meta’s platforms for users in the state. According to court filings, these measures could include verifying users’ ages, redesigning algorithms to promote higher-quality content for minors, and disabling features such as autoplay and infinite scrolling for younger users.

Meta has said it has already taken extensive steps to address safety concerns and protect young users. In recent court filings, the company argued that many of the proposed changes are not feasible and warned they could force it to cease operations in New Mexico.

“The New Mexico Attorney General's focus on a single platform is a misguided strategy that ignores the hundreds of other apps teens use daily,” a Meta spokesperson said ahead of the trial. “Rather than providing comprehensive protections, the state's proposed mandates infringe on parental rights and stifle free expression for all New Mexicans.”

The lawsuit is one of a growing number of legal actions across the United States targeting Meta and other social media companies over allegations that their products are intentionally designed to be addictive to young users.

By Tamilla Hasanova