Meta says it could shut down social media platforms in New Mexico

Key Points:

• Meta is threatening to shut down its social media services in New Mexico due to state prosecutors' demands for major changes to protect children's mental health and safety, including stricter age verification and privacy measures.
• This development comes ahead of a bench trial on allegations that Meta poses a public nuisance, following a prior $375 million penalty for harming children and concealing child sexual exploitation on its platforms.
• Meta claims it cannot meet the proposed 99% accuracy requirement for verifying users' ages, arguing that complying would force the company to either shut down services statewide or face impossible obligations.
• New Mexico prosecutors reject Meta's claims, emphasizing the necessity of reforms in the evolving social media landscape to prevent exploitation and protect children, while noting Meta's platforms are widely used by the state's 2.1 million residents.
• Legal experts warn that Meta’s withdrawal from New Mexico could set a precedent for other regions, though it may also be seen as a hostile move with unintended consequences, reflecting broader global tensions over regulating children's online activities.