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New Mexico seeking changes to Meta's platform after jury finds company liable

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Why This Matters

The New Mexico case against Meta highlights increasing legal scrutiny over social media platforms' responsibility to protect minors, potentially shaping future regulations across the industry. The case underscores the importance of platform safety features and accountability, prompting companies to reconsider their design and moderation strategies. This development could lead to more stringent oversight and legal standards for social media companies nationwide.

Key Takeaways

New Mexico is continuing to seek changes from Meta following a jury's decision to hold the company liable for failing to safeguard children on its platforms, Attorney General Raúl Torrez told CNBC on Wednesday.

"We're going to be asking for injunctive relief," Torrez said on CNBC's "Squawk Box" about the next phase of the trial to address the state's public nuisance claim.

"That means changes to the design features of the platform itself, real age verification, changes to the algorithm, an independent monitor to oversee those changes and fundamentally a demand that they do business differently in New Mexico," he said.

A jury ruled Tuesday that Meta must pay the state $375 million for failing to adhere to New Mexico laws designed to protect children from online exploitation.

The verdict could set a precedent for how the industry is regulated going forward in the U.S. The safety of social media, especially for minors, has raised legal questions in high-profile cases that have been compared to 'Big Tobacco' trials of the 1990s.

A jury in a different personal injury trial involving Meta and Google's YouTube has been deliberating in a Los Angeles Superior Court since March 12.

"We respectfully disagree with the verdict and will appeal," a Meta spokesperson said following the New Mexico jury's decision.