The Guardian | A jury in New Mexico found that Meta misled consumers over safety and enabled harm — including sexual exploitation of children — against users.

“The jury’s verdict is a historic victory for every child and family who has paid the price for Meta’s choice to put profits over kids’ safety,” said New Mexico’s attorney general, Raúl Torrez. Meta has been ordered to pay $375 million in civil penalties.

The lawsuit was brought by Torrez’s office following the April 2023 publication of a two-year investigation by The Guardian. The investigation revealed how Facebook and Instagram had become marketplaces for the sex trafficking of minors.

The Guardian investigation cited documentation and testimony that employees and child-safety experts had warned the company about the risks and activity on its platforms.

“Harms to children, such as sexual exploitation and detriments to mental health, were inevitable on the company’s platforms due to their vast user bases,” according to taped depositions from Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg and Instagram leader Adam Mosseri that taped depositions that were played in the trial.

The evidence in the trial included details about New Mexico’s “Operation Metaphile” investigation and the arrest of men charged with preying on children through Meta’s platforms.

Witnesses in the jury trial included members of law enforcement and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

One of the issues raised was Meta’s reliance on AI to moderate its platforms and evaluate report reviews.

The next phase of the legal proceedings will seek court-mandated changes to Meta’s platform to improve the protection of children.

Full article: Meta ordered to pay $375m after being found liable in child exploitation case