Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, is heading to trial in New Mexico over allegations that it didn’t do enough to protect children from sexual exploitation on its platforms. As the court date approaches, the company is working to limit what evidence can be used against it. Public records reviewed by Wired show that Meta wants to block a wide range of information from the trial. This includes research on social media’s impact on young people’s mental health, reports of teen suicides linked to social media, its own financial details, past privacy violations, and even references to CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s college years.
The lawsuit was filed in late 2023 by New Mexico attorney general Raul Torrez. It accuses Meta of failing to stop online predators, child trafficking, and sexual abuse. The state claims that the company allowed explicit content to reach minors and did not have strong enough safety measures to protect them. The case is notable as the first trial of its kind at the state level and is set to begin on February 2, according to the report.
While it’s common for companies to try to narrow the evidence in court, legal experts say Meta’s requests are unusually broad. The company is even asking that its AI chatbots and surveys about inappropriate content on its platforms, including its own internal research, not be mentioned.
Also read: Tesla aims to release Optimus robots publicly by end of next year, Elon Musk says
Meta is also seeking to block any mention of a public health warning issued by former US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy about social media’s impact on youth mental health. The company argues that this and other information is irrelevant or could unfairly influence the jury.
This shows how aggressively Meta is trying to control what the public and the court can see.
The outcome of the New Mexico trial could set an example for how tech companies should be held accountable for child safety online. All eyes will be on the case when it begins next month.
Also read: Ubisoft cancels Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time remake and 5 other games: Here’s why