Internal documents have surfaced as part of a New Mexico state trial, indicating that Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, had knowledge of extensive child exploitation risks on its platforms. The New York Post reported that Meta executives were warned about predators targeting hundreds of thousands of minors daily and did little to mitigate the issue.
The case, led by New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez, accuses Meta of exposing children to sexual exploitation and mental health harm. Attorney General Torrez is prepared to present evidence suggesting that the social media giant allowed predatory messaging, "sextortion" schemes, and human trafficking networks to flourish within its digital ecosystem.
Evidence includes emails from 2020, where Malia Andrus, a former Meta researcher focused on child safety, alerted executives to the alarming frequency with which predators targeted minors—approximately 500,000 per day in English-language markets. Andrus expressed grave concerns about the potential ramifications, highlighting the unique dangers posed by private large-scale digital communications platforms.
Further investigations by New Mexico state officials involved setting up test accounts, which subsequently received unsolicited sexually explicit materials and contact from suspected predators. Internal emails also pointed out that Meta's age verification systems were insufficient, allowing minors to circumvent them and leaving children vulnerable to exploitation.
The lawsuit is part of a broader legal movement to hold tech giants accountable for their platforms' impact on users, particularly minors. California families and school districts have launched similar claims against Meta and YouTube, and at the federal level, the FTC has appealed its antitrust loss against Meta.
Comparisons are being drawn between these legal initiatives and historical cases against industries like Big Tobacco and Big Pharma. This litigation could mark a pivotal moment for accountability in the tech sector, with figures like Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg in the spotlight.
Contrary to the allegations, a Meta spokesperson defended the company's record, citing its engagement with parents, experts, and law enforcement to develop safety measures. The spokesperson described the claims from the New Mexico case as "sensationalist and irrelevant."
The trial's outcome could set a precedent for how social media companies are held responsible for exposing minors to exploitation and harmful content. It might also redefine parental responsibility and signal a shift in expectations for child protection in the digital age. Observers suggest that the ruling could influence future legislation, shape industry practices, and serve as a cautionary tale for technology executives that child safety is not a discretionary matter.
