Tech professionals in an open-plan office, focused on screens, with "New Mexico Withdrawal" on a whiteboard.
Tech giant Meta is threatening to withdraw Facebook and Instagram from New Mexico if forced to comply with child safety protocols demanded by the state following a recent $375 million jury award.
The company and New Mexico are heading into the second phase of a trial that began after a jury found Meta misled consumers about platform safety and child protection measures against sexual predators. This next stage will determine the specific actions Meta must take.
New Mexico is seeking, among other remedies, a requirement that Meta achieve a 99% accuracy rate in verifying that users are at least 13 years old. Meta has argued this is unfeasible, stating in a court filing that it would impose “impossible obligations” and that building separate apps for New Mexico residents would not be economically or technically sensible.
Meta’s legal team suggested that these broad and burdensome requests could compel the company to “withdraw its apps entirely from the State of New Mexico as an alternative way of complying with the injunction.” The company also plans to appeal the $375 million civil judgment and argues it is being unfairly targeted compared to other social media platforms popular with young users.
New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez criticized Meta’s stance, stating, “Meta is showing the world how little it cares about child safety.” He added, “Meta’s refusal to follow the laws that protect our kids tells you everything you need to know about this company and the character of its leaders.” Torrez asserted that Meta possesses the technical capability to make the requested changes, citing the company’s history of altering rules and products to maintain market access. He concluded, “Meta simply refuses to place the safety of children ahead of engagement, advertising revenue, and profit.”
Beyond age verification, New Mexico is also pushing for safer recommendation algorithms that do not prioritize engagement over child well-being, restrictions on end-to-end encryption for minors, prominent warning labels about platform risks, permanent bans for adults involved in child exploitation, and an independent oversight monitor.
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