New Mexico's Attorney General announced charges against three individuals accused of using Meta's social media platforms to target and solicit sex with underage children. The arrests followed a monthslong undercover operation where suspects engaged with decoy accounts set up by the state Department of Justice. The investigation began in December concurrently with a civil lawsuit filed against Meta, alleging the company's failure to implement basic safety measures for children on its platforms.
During a news conference, the Attorney General revealed that the suspects communicated and exchanged explicit content through Facebook's messenger app, expressing a clear interest in minors. He emphasized the ease with which these individuals found the undercover personas, highlighting the seriousness of such threats and calling for heightened awareness.
Blame was placed on Meta executives, with suggestions that the company prioritized profits over the safety of children. Meta refuted the allegations, stating its use of technology to prevent suspicious adult interactions with minors and collaboration with law enforcement to combat offenders. The company claimed to have hired child safety experts, reporting content to relevant authorities and sharing tools to combat predators.
While the attorney general's office continues efforts to identify predators targeting children, it remains uncertain whether this work will impact the ongoing civil litigation. Internal documents uncovered in the lawsuit revealed Meta employees estimating around 100,000 children facing sexual harassment daily on the platform.
The three defendants in the criminal case face charges including child solicitation by electronic communication device. Prosecutors seek their detention pending trial, with hearings pending scheduling. Attorneys for two defendants were not listed, while the public defender's office represents the third.
