The New Mexico Department of Justice is pursuing a substantial financial penalty from Meta, Facebook’s parent company. A jury in New Mexico recently held Meta accountable for jeopardizing children’s safety and not transparently communicating the risks associated with its platforms. As a result of the jury’s decision, Meta faces a requirement to pay $375 million, reflective of the maximum civil penalty under state law.

A recent legal motion calls for Meta to contribute $953 million into a fund dedicated to advancing public education and supporting behavioral health initiatives, according to SourceNM.

New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez has accused Meta of prioritizing profit over children’s safety. He claims that company leaders ignored employee warnings and deceived the public regarding safety concerns. Specifically, Torrez alleges that Meta’s platform designs allowed for child exploitation by predators.

Additionally, Torrez contends that Meta’s applications were intentionally designed to addict young users, leading them to harmful content related to self-harm and eating disorders.

The state’s proposed financial relief has significantly decreased—now less than 10% of its original demand.

A Meta representative communicated to Fox News Digital that the New Mexico Attorney General’s strategies during the trial were flawed. They argue that proposed mandates could reduce safety for teenagers, violate parental rights, and hinder free expression.

The company maintains that the state’s case overlooks other applications young people use daily and lacks legal and scientific support for what New Mexico is demanding. Meta asserts its commitment to offering safe experiences for young users, having implemented 13 safety enhancements over the past year.