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Meta Faces Lawsuit for Knowingly Exposing Kids to Danger
(MENAFN) Meta, the parent company of Facebook, has entered a high-profile jury trial in New Mexico, accused of knowingly exposing children to serious risks on its social media platforms, including sexual abuse.
According to reports, New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez claims that Meta’s platforms—Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp—create unsafe environments for minors, leaving them vulnerable to sexual exploitation, solicitation, and sextortion, sometimes resulting in real-world abuse and human trafficking.
The lawsuit follows an undercover investigation conducted by Torrez’s office in 2023, which alleged that Meta fails to stop child trafficking on its networks. Prosecutors are seeking to hold the company accountable for algorithms that push harmful or addictive content to children.
Meta has denied the allegations, stating that it maintains extensive safeguards for younger users. The company had sought to dismiss the case, citing protections under free-speech and online immunity laws, but a judge allowed the trial to move forward.
This lawsuit is the second major case in 2026 targeting Meta over alleged harm to minors. Another ongoing trial in Los Angeles involves families and schools suing Meta, TikTok, and YouTube in a first-of-its-kind product liability case, claiming the platforms were deliberately designed to addict children and damage their mental health.
Internationally, Meta is also facing mounting regulatory pressure. In 2022, Russia labeled the company an “extremist organization,” and across the EU, it is contending with multiple cases, including a €797 million ($940 million) antitrust fine, as well as separate copyright, data-protection, and advertising investigations.
Growing concerns about child safety online are fueling legal actions worldwide. In the US, Meta faces allegations of prioritizing engagement over user safety. Several countries have introduced or are planning age restrictions for social media use: Australia has banned users under 16, Denmark plans a ban for under-15s, and France, Spain, and Italy are pursuing similar age-limit laws.
According to reports, New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez claims that Meta’s platforms—Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp—create unsafe environments for minors, leaving them vulnerable to sexual exploitation, solicitation, and sextortion, sometimes resulting in real-world abuse and human trafficking.
The lawsuit follows an undercover investigation conducted by Torrez’s office in 2023, which alleged that Meta fails to stop child trafficking on its networks. Prosecutors are seeking to hold the company accountable for algorithms that push harmful or addictive content to children.
Meta has denied the allegations, stating that it maintains extensive safeguards for younger users. The company had sought to dismiss the case, citing protections under free-speech and online immunity laws, but a judge allowed the trial to move forward.
This lawsuit is the second major case in 2026 targeting Meta over alleged harm to minors. Another ongoing trial in Los Angeles involves families and schools suing Meta, TikTok, and YouTube in a first-of-its-kind product liability case, claiming the platforms were deliberately designed to addict children and damage their mental health.
Internationally, Meta is also facing mounting regulatory pressure. In 2022, Russia labeled the company an “extremist organization,” and across the EU, it is contending with multiple cases, including a €797 million ($940 million) antitrust fine, as well as separate copyright, data-protection, and advertising investigations.
Growing concerns about child safety online are fueling legal actions worldwide. In the US, Meta faces allegations of prioritizing engagement over user safety. Several countries have introduced or are planning age restrictions for social media use: Australia has banned users under 16, Denmark plans a ban for under-15s, and France, Spain, and Italy are pursuing similar age-limit laws.
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