Meta faces trial after undercover investigation finds illegal content on Facebook and Instagram, company responds

Facebook and Instagram parent company Meta is set to face trial next week in New Mexico. The lawsuit alleges that the Mark Zuckerberg-led company knowingly exposed children to sexual exploitation and prioritised corporate profit over the safety of its youngest users. The trial will begin on Monday (February 2) in Santa Fe District Court, is expected to span nearly two months.

According to a report by news agency Reuters, the case has been brought by New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez, and centres on a 2023 undercover investigation dubbed “Operation MetaPhile.” During the probe, investigators created accounts on both Facebook and Instagram, posing as children under the age of 14.