New Mexico AG leverages Meta verdict to push stronger online child-safety laws
Attorney General Raúl Torrez is drafting two bills to tighten consumer and child-protection rules for social media, building on a recent $942 million judgment against Meta.
A New Mexico jury concluded that Meta knowingly harmed children and concealed exploitation on its platforms, resulting in a $942 million liability and a suite of five-year reforms such as age verification and notification caps. Attorney General Raúl Torrez is using that momentum to craft two new statutes aimed at reinforcing online safety for minors and extending consumer-protection rules to AI and other emerging technologies.
The legislation, expected in the coming weeks, would require stricter age checks, guardian accounts for users under 18, and broader penalties for violations. Torrez also announced plans for additional legal actions, including a second case against Meta over data privacy and a suit against an AI chatbot provider. He has consulted with former interior secretary and gubernatorial hopeful Deb Haaland, who backs the effort, while Meta maintains it will appeal the judgment and points to its own safety investments.
Why it matters
The initiative could reshape how states regulate social media and AI, affecting millions of young users nationwide.
How this story developed
- Aug 8 Federal Trial Targets Meta Over Alleged Child Harm and $1.4 Trillion Claim
- Aug 11 The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals denied Meta and TikTok’s appeal, allowing the lawsuits to proceed.
- Aug 13 Jury selection started in Oakland for the multistate trial.
- Aug 14 A Ninth Circuit court ruled that Section 230 does not shield Meta from the design‑related allegations.
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