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\u201cSignificant numbers of people in New Mexico experience harm from Meta\u2019s products due to risks of sexual exploitation, interference with education, and adverse mental health outcomes,\u201d he wrote. Biedscheid said this harm includes child sexual exploitation in which \u201can online predator threatens or coerces a child for financial gain, typically involving a threat to expose nude or exploitative imagery of that child.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIn sum, the Court finds that New Mexico is in the midst of a teen mental health crisis affecting public health and public safety in and throughout the state, and that Meta\u2019s platforms are a significant contributing cause to the crisis,\u201d he wrote.<\/p>\n
The fund ordered by Biedscheid would include $420 million for treatment, $90 million for screening and assessment, $33 million for awareness and prevention, and $24 million for other costs. Biedscheid rejected a proposal from an expert witness that Meta fund new community-based health centers and said the treatment and related services should be funded for five years instead of the requested 15 years.<\/p>\n
\u201cTreatment is a necessary component of addressing harms to mental health and safety,\u201d he wrote. \u201cAny abatement fund must include funding for appropriate clinical or other behavioral health programs and professionals. However, requiring Meta to fund entire new physical facilities goes beyond what remedies are necessary to abate current harm.\u201d<\/p>\n
Biedscheid found that 15 years\u2019 worth of funding would be excessive. Other social media companies share responsibility for the harm to New Mexico youth, so he considered Meta\u2019s market share when deciding on an amount lower than what the state wanted.<\/p>\n
Torrez called the ruling \u201ca landmark victory,\u201d and said the \u201ccase has always been about protecting children, standing up for families, and making sure that one of the world\u2019s largest technology companies cannot profit from practices that endanger young people without consequence.\u201d<\/p>\n
Meta said it will appeal the ruling, telling media outlets, \u201cWe work hard to keep people safe on our platforms and have been transparent about the challenges of identifying and removing bad actors and harmful content. We remain confident in our record of protecting teens online and will continue to defend ourselves against claims that misrepresent the facts.\u201d<\/p>\n