According to a lawsuit filed against Meta Platforms and CEO Mark Zuckerberg, New Mexico officials accused Facebook and Instagram of enabling child sexual abuse and human trafficking on the platform.
The 288-page civil lawsuit filed Tuesday in a New Mexico state court claimed that the social media company allegedly exposed young users to sexual content, and subjected children to the risk of abuse or exploitation.
“Meta’s business model of profit over child safety and business practices of misrepresenting the amount of dangerous material and conduct to which its platforms expose children violates New Mexico law,” the complaint says. “Meta should be held accountable for the harms it has inflicted on New Mexico’s children.”
Attorney General Raúl Torrez said his office conducted an “undercover investigation” into the social media platforms that found Facebook and Instagram have certain child exploitative content.
“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,” Torrez said.
“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,” Torrez continued.
Meta responded to the accusations, saying that the platforms take precautionary measures to “help root out predators.”
“Child exploitation is a horrific crime and online predators are determined criminals,” Meta said in a statement. adding the social media giant uses “sophisticated technology, hires child safety experts, reports content to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and share information and tools with other companies and law enforcement, including state attorneys general.”
