07:18 AM EDT, 03/25/2026 (MT Newswires) -- (Corrects headline to say New Mexico.)

Meta Platforms ( META ) was ordered to pay $375 million damages Tuesday in a New Mexico jury trial in which it was found liable for knowingly harming children's mental health and hiding its own findings of child sexual exploitation on its Facebook and Instagram social media platforms, the state government said.

New Mexico's attorney general, which pursued the lawsuit, hailed the verdict as a "landmark" case. The jury ordered Meta to pay the maximum $5,000 for each alleged violation.

"Meta executives knew their products harmed children, disregarded warnings from their own employees, and lied to the public about what they knew," said New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez. "The substantial damages the jury ordered Meta to pay should send a clear message to big tech executives that no company is beyond the reach of the law."

Evidence presented at the trial included internal documents and testimony from former company employees showing that Meta platform features "enabled pedophiles and predators to engage in child sexual exploitation," the attorney general said.

Meta did not immediately reply to MT Newswires' request for comment.

A Meta spokesperson told news outlets that it will appeal the verdict.