Meta is warning it may shut down access to its platforms in one U.S. state as a major child safety case moves forward.
The company said it could remove Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp from New Mexico following a court ruling that held it liable for failures in protecting children.
In March, a jury ordered Meta to pay $375 million in penalties after finding it misled users about safety and allowed harmful activity, including child exploitation.
The lawsuit, filed in December 2023 by the state’s attorney general, is the first jury trial to hold the company accountable for activity on its platforms.
The case is now entering its next phase, where a judge will decide what changes Meta must make. In court filings, the company argued that the proposed reforms are too complex and could require building separate versions of its apps specifically for New Mexico.
Meta said that if those requirements are enforced, withdrawing its services from the state could be the only realistic option.
State officials rejected the claim, arguing that the company has the capability to make the changes but is choosing not to prioritize child safety over engagement and revenue.
The next stage of the trial is expected to last several weeks.