Meta Tries to Limit Evidence in New Mexico Teen Mental Health Case

Meta is facing a lawsuit in New Mexico. (Meta doc) 

JAKARTA - Meta will undergo a trial for the company's failure to protect children from sexual exploitation cases. This case will run in New Mexico starting February 2.

The company that oversees major social media such as Instagram and Facebook is accused of not making enough efforts to keep its platform from predators. This case is exacerbated by the accusation of blocking various important evidence so that it is not used in court.

According to public records reviewed by Wired, Meta has sought to prevent juries from seeing research on the harmful effects of social media on the mental health of teenagers. These restrictions include the removal of tragic stories about teenagers who commit suicide because of its platform.

This lawsuit was first filed by the New Mexico Attorney General, Raúl Torrez, at the end of 2023. Torrez accused Meta of allowing explicit material to reach minors and neglecting adequate security protocols.

Meta is also suspected of keeping secret talks about their chatbots. Legal experts assess that the company's request to close this information is an unusual move.

Moreover, Meta also rejected the mention of public health warnings that had been issued by former US general surgeons. They argued that the data was irrelevant and could unfairly affect the objectivity of the jury.

In fact, Meta tried to block the results of their internal survey regarding the amount of inappropriate content on its platform. In this trial that will run, the judge's decision will determine how Meta's privacy and digital security protection will work in the future for minors.