META is facing two trials over child safety allegations in California and New Mexico, with the proceedings described as landmark since they are the first to reach a jury. The New Mexico case, filed by Attorney General Raúl Torrez in December 2023, centres on child sexual exploitation and includes evidence gathered by posing as children online.
Newly unsealed internal documents are reported to show a safety researcher warning of the scale, claiming around half a million cases of child exploitation are happening daily, and the complaint describes Meta’s platforms as a breeding ground for predators. The company has pushed back, arguing the investigation is ethically compromised and that data has been cherry-picked, while defence attorney Kevin Huff maintains that risks were disclosed.
A separate bellwether case in Los Angeles concerns a 20-year-old woman alleging that YouTube and Instagram hooked her from childhood, marking the first of more than 2,400 personal injury filings in that proceeding. Juries will weigh whether Meta’s design choices and safety measures crossed legal lines, as regulators worldwide pursue tougher age-verification and safety mechanisms. According to New Mexico AG Raúl Torrez, the New Mexico case underscores concerns about the platform operating as a marketplace for harmful activities.