Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios
All eyes are on New Mexico as Attorney General Raúl Torrez takes on Meta for allegedly harming kids online.
Why it matters: Torrez is building his lawsuit against Meta as the company comes under fire for its AI chatbot and how it's interacting with children.
What they're saying: In his 2024 complaint the AG accuses Meta of making design choices that fail to protect children from predators online, like a lack of age verification tools.
- That danger is made worse by other design choices, such as endless scroll, that allegedly addict children to Meta's platforms, according to Torrez.
- Those design choices are made by the company directly, not by a third-party's content choices — a distinction that removes Section 230's liability shield and that AGs across the country are highlighting in their own complaints.
What they're saying: "Children should be protected when they go online, but our lawsuit describes how Meta's lax policies, algorithms, and AI chatbots have made Meta the world's largest online marketplace for pedophiles and predators," Torrez said in a statement.
- "We will hold Meta accountable for violating the law and we will ask the court to require Meta to make meaningful changes to keep children safe."
The other side: "Child exploitation is a horrific crime and online predators are determined criminals," Meta spokesperson Dani Lever said in a statement.
- "We use sophisticated technology, hire child safety experts, report 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, to help root out predators."
The intrigue: Unlike the massive state and federal proceedings unfolding in California where discovery has ended, in New Mexico, Torrez is continuing to amass documents from Meta.
- The timing could change the nature of the proceedings: AI chatbots have introduced a new element into the debate around protecting kids online and the responsibility companies should carry.
What we're watching: The discovery period will end in December, though a summary of findings is due next month.
- Trial is set to start in February.
