Meta says New Mexico lawsuit could force Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp out of the state

A Santa Fe judge has begun a bench trial to decide whether Meta’s Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp create a public nuisance in New Mexico.

The state wants major product changes tied to child safety, including possible limits on algorithms, autoplay, infinite scroll and stronger age verification.

A previous jury found Meta violated consumer protection law and awarded New Mexico $375 million, intensifying pressure in the case.

Meta says the requested fixes are impractical and could force it to stop operating in the state.

The outcome could set a major precedent for using public nuisance law to regulate social media platforms and online harms.