Meta loses trial after arguing child exploitation was “inevitable” on its apps
Summary
Meta lost the first of three child-safety trials in New Mexico, with a jury ordering $375 million in civil damages for failing to protect children and for misleading parents about safety. Internal messages and trial testimony suggested Meta relied on AI for moderation and that warnings were ignored, including evidence that 'junk' reports hindered investigations. Meta plans to appeal as other related cases proceed, highlighting ongoing regulatory scrutiny of platform safety and privacy features such as encryption by default.