Meta is threatening to take the apps out of New Mexico over child safety laws
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Tech giant Meta is threatening to block access to its social media platforms in New Mexico in response to a state lawmaker’s effort to force changes to the platform’s child safety regulations.
Meta and Status of In New Mexico are expected to proceed to the second phase of their trial next week after a judge recently awarded the government $375 million after finding that the company misled consumers about the safety of its platforms and protecting children from sex offenders.
The next phase of the case will affect what steps must be taken by the parent company of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp to deal with those problems.
Among the remedies New Mexico is seeking is a requirement that Meta meet a 99% accuracy threshold in verifying that children on its grounds are at least 13 years old. Meta has pushed back on that requirement, arguing in court that it is impractical and would require “complying with impossible obligations.”
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Meta warns it could be forced to release its apps in New Mexico if the state succeeds in demanding the social media giant make certain safeguards. (Arda Kucukkaya/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Meta’s legal team said in the filing that “New Mexico’s requests for relief are so broad and burdensome that, if implemented, they could force Meta to withdraw its operations entirely from the State of New Mexico as an alternative to complying with this law.”
“It does not make economic or engineering sense for Meta to be built different applications to New Mexico residents only,” Meta’s attorneys added. “Also Meta would not have guaranteed the completeness required by the State, making it impossible for Meta to operate in New Mexico.”
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| A ticker | Security | Finally | Change | change % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| META | META PLATFORMS INC. | 611.91 | -57.21 |
-8.55% |
The company has revealed that it is being unfairly singled out when compared to other social networks popular with young people. It has also previously signaled that it will appeal $375 million civil settlement against it.
New Mexico rejected Meta’s assertion that it would be impossible to comply with the protections it wants for social media apps.
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Meta is the parent company of apps including Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp. (Reuters/Dado Ruvic/Illustration)
“Meta is showing the world how much it doesn’t care about the safety of children,” said New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez. “Meta’s refusal to follow laws that protect our children tells you everything you need to know about this company and the character of its leaders.”
“We know that Meta has the power to make these changes. For years the company has rewritten its rules, redesigned its products, and even bowed to the demands of dictators to maintain access to the market. This is not about technical ability. Meta simply refuses to put Meta child safety before engagement, advertising revenue, and profit,” Torrez added.
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New Mexico also requires Meta to use safely recommendation algorithms which include prioritizing the welfare of children, restrictions on child custody, prominent warning labels about field hazards, permanent bans on adults who engage in or encourage child abuse, and an independent court-appointed oversight regime to monitor child safety.
