ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The New Mexico Department of Justice (NNMDOJ) won against a motion to dismiss their lawsuit against Meta – the parent company of Facebook. The state’s lawsuit aims to combat sexual abuse, online solicitation, and human trafficking, leveraging evidence gathered through undercover investigations.
“Our investigation into Meta’s social media platforms demonstrates that they are not safe spaces for children but rather prime locations for predators to trade child pornography and solicit minors for sex,” said Attorney General Torrez. “As a career prosecutor who specialized in internet crimes against children, I am committed to using every available tool to put an end to these horrific practices and I will hold companies — and their executives — accountable whenever they put profits ahead of children’s safety.”
The NMDOJ conducted undercover operations using decoy accounts representing children 14 years old and younger. The evidence gathered revealed alarming practices on Meta's platforms, including:
• Serving and directing underage users explicit content.
• Enabling adults to solicit children for sexually explicit images and videos.
• Recommending unmoderated groups facilitating commercial sex.
• Allowing the sharing and selling of child pornography.
• Facilitating the fictitious sale of a minor for sex trafficking.
“Mr. Zuckerberg and other Meta executives are aware of the serious harm their products can pose to young users, and yet they have failed to make sufficient changes to their platforms that would prevent the sexual exploitation of children,” added AG Torrez. “Despite repeated assurances to Congress and the public that they can be trusted to police themselves, it is clear that Meta’s executives continue to prioritize engagement and ad revenue over the safety of the most vulnerable members of our society.”
According to Torrez, Meta's failure to remove Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) and its role in enabling predators to exploit underage users is why the department filed the suit. The criminal complaint, spanning 228 pages, writes in detail about the severity of the issue, comparing the prevalence of exploitative content on Meta’s platforms to other websites notorious for adult content.
In the legal victory, Judge Bryan Biedscheid recently denied Meta’s motion to dismiss the case, allowing it to proceed. This decision marks a historic step in holding social media giants accountable. “The judge’s decision is a historic victory for children and parents in New Mexico and across the country. For decades, Meta Platforms have prevented nearly every legal challenge against them from proceeding. Today, the New Mexico Department of Justice brought that era to an end,” stated AG Torrez.
As the case moves forward, the New Mexico Department of Justice remains steadfast in its commitment to ensuring the safety of children online. This lawsuit serves as a warning to all social media platforms about the importance of protecting their users, especially the most vulnerable ones.
Internet Safety Tips for Parents and Kids
In light of the ongoing battle against online dangers, the New Mexico Department of Justice (NMDOJ) offers the following internet safety tips to help parents and guardians protect their children:
Choose the right time: Discuss internet safety in a relaxed and quiet setting.
Begin with positives: Highlight the beneficial aspects of the internet before addressing risks.
Introduce balance: Emphasize the importance of balancing online and offline activities.
Cover potential risks: Educate children about cyberbullying, privacy issues, and inappropriate content.
Establish boundaries: Set rules for internet use, including screen time limits and appropriate websites.
Encourage open communication: Ensure children know they can discuss their online experiences with you.
Revisit the conversation regularly: Adapt the discussion as your child grows and their internet use evolves.
For additional resources and support, the NMDOJ has launched SMART CHATS (Social Media Awareness Roundtables Creating Healthy Avenues Towards Safety) to help parents and educators navigate the complexities of online safety. These resources include privacy guides for social media and gaming platforms, strategies for protecting children from cyberbullying and sextortion, and tools for removing explicit content from the internet.
Parents and children affected by social media-related issues, such as sexual exploitation, cyberbullying, or mental health challenges, are encouraged to share their experiences with the NMDOJ to further aid in this critical mission.
Courtesy Photo