Meta is preparing for trial in New Mexico, where it faces accusations of failing to protect children from sexual exploitation on its platforms. As the trial date approaches, the company’s legal team is seeking to restrict the evidence that can be presented in court. Based on public records, Meta aims to block research on social media’s impact on youth mental health, discussions of teen suicides linked to social media, any reference to the company’s finances, its history of privacy violations, and even details about CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s college years.
These legal motions are part of a lawsuit filed by New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez in late 2023. The state alleges that Meta did not adequately safeguard minors from online predators, trafficking, and sexual abuse on its platforms. The complaint specifically claims Meta allowed explicit material to reach underage users and failed to implement sufficient child safety measures. This trial is notable as the first of its kind at the state level and is scheduled to start on February 2.
While it is common for a defendant to try to narrow the scope of a trial, two legal experts noted that Meta’s efforts are unusually broad. The company’s requests include blocking any mention of its own AI chatbots. Additionally, Meta has asked the court to exclude a public health warning issued by former U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy concerning social media’s effects on youth mental health. The company also seeks to prevent the jury from seeing surveys, including its own internal studies, regarding the prevalence of inappropriate content on its platforms. Meta argues that all this information is irrelevant to the case and could potentially prejudice the jury.