New Mexico AG says Meta's $18 billion settlement falls short of state's trial wins
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New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez said Meta's $18 billion settlement with 51 states lacks protections his state already won at trial, including a ban on romantic AI chatbot interactions with minors. Torrez called the deal historic but said it does not match New Mexico's court-ordered safeguards. His office secured a $942 million judgment against Meta after a jury found 75,000 violations of state consumer law.
Key Facts
- A Santa Fe jury found Meta liable for 75,000 violations of New Mexico's consumer protection law and ordered $375 million in civil penalties in March.
- A judge added $567 million in August after ruling Meta created a public nuisance, bringing New Mexico's total judgment to about $942 million.
- Meta agreed to pay up to $18 billion over the next decade and overhaul Facebook and Instagram for users under 18 in a settlement with 51 attorneys general.
- The settlement requires a default two-hour daily time limit, a nighttime block from midnight to 6 a.m., and muted notifications during school hours for minors.
- Meta's Chief Legal Officer C. J. Mahoney called on TikTok and YouTube to adopt the same restrictions in an open letter posted the day of the settlement.
New Mexico's Trial Victory
New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez said the nationwide settlement lacks a direct ban on romantic and sexualized AI chatbot interactions with minors and stronger safeguards against adults targeting kids in private messages. A Santa Fe jury found Meta liable for 75,000 violations of the state's consumer protection law in March and ordered $375 million in civil penalties. A judge added $567 million in August after ruling Meta created a public nuisance similar to air pollution, bringing the state's total judgment to about $942 million. Torrez said New Mexico was the first state to take Meta to trial over harm to children and that the fight has now translated into a nationwide settlement.
Settlement Terms
Meta agreed to pay up to $18 billion over the next decade and overhaul how Facebook and Instagram work for anyone under 18. The deal requires a default two-hour daily time limit, a nighttime block between midnight and 6 a.m., muted notifications during the school day, and hidden like counts. It also bans cosmetic-surgery and extreme makeup filters, strengthens age verification, and appoints an independent auditor to check compliance for five years. California Attorney General Rob Bonta's office led the case and has not responded to requests for comment beyond public statements.
Industry Response
Meta's Chief Legal Officer C. J. Mahoney said in a statement that the company is calling on TikTok and YouTube to make the same commitments. TikTok and YouTube did not respond to requests for comment despite Meta's open letter posted the same day as the settlement.
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New Mexico AG says Meta's $18 billion settlement falls short of state's trial wins
