News-New-Mexico-Seeks-3-7B-Meta-May-2026
May 4, 2026 — The second phase of New Mexico's landmark child safety case against Meta Platforms began in Santa Fe, with the state seeking $3.7 billion in abatement costs and sweeping injunctive relief.[1]
The bench trial, expected to last three weeks, will determine whether Meta's actions constitute a public nuisance warranting product changes to Facebook and Instagram. New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez had already prevailed in the first phase in March 2026, when a jury found Meta willfully violated the state's unfair practices act and awarded $375 million.[2]
The case is part of a series of social media trials in 2026, characterized by some legal experts as the "Big Tobacco moment" for tech platforms. In opening arguments, the state argued that "children are begging for help" from harms caused by the platforms, while Meta denied the public nuisance claim.[1]
The judge warned prosecutors against "overreach" in the remedies sought, which include extensive changes to how the company delivers its services in New Mexico.