New Mexico's Attorney General has voiced concerns that Meta might erase data from their test accounts, potentially jeopardizing the case, as stated in court filings. This comes after Meta alleged they would only retain information deemed relevant for the lawsuit.
Meta is currently under fire from various school districts and attorneys general, who have lodged claims against the tech giant for allegedly endangerning children, challenging minors' mental health, and invading privacy. Meta has consistently refuted these accusations.
Now, the Attorney General is concerned that Meta might delete data from their test accounts, affecting the case, as mentioned in a court filing. This follows Meta's claim that they would only preserve information considered important for the lawsuit.
The Attorney General of New Mexico accused Meta of creating a breeding ground for child predators on Facebook and Instagram by subjecting young users to explicit content and enabling unwanted contact from unknown adults. As part of their investigation, the Attorney General's office created sample Instagram accounts registered for users under 12.
According to the complaint, these accounts were able to access and search for content with explicit "sexual or self-harming themes," including "soft pornography." Additionally, investigators discovered numerous accounts sharing child pornography, including images of young girls in underwear and suggestive photos indicating minor involvement in sexual activities.
Meta fiercely denies the claims. "We employ advanced technology, engage child safety experts, report content to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and share information and tools with other businesses and law enforcement agencies, including attorneys general, to aid in the elimination of offenders," Meta stated in a recent statement.
The Attorney General's concerns stem from Meta deactivating their test accounts, rendering further research and data access impossible. As recorded in documents, this deactivation came with a warning of permanent deactivation.
While it's unclear if "permanent deactivation" of an account equates to deletion, New Mexico believes it does. Authorities in California have filed a similar case, with the company's "locked" accounts inadvertently deleted through an automated process, as confirmed in a recent court filing.
In an attempt to avoid the same outcome, the Attorney General requested Meta to confirm if data from the test accounts and others mentioned in the complaint were being stored. Meta's lawyers merely promised to take appropriate steps to identify the accounts mentioned in the complaint and preserve relevant data and information about those accounts.
Meta did not respond to follow-up queries regarding which data they considered relevant and which they did not, as stated in the court filing. The Attorney General argues that a judicial order is necessary to preserve these critical evidential pieces for the trial given Meta's refusal to retain "all data" linked to the contested accounts.
CNN reached out to Meta for comment on the Attorney General's court filing, but they did not receive a response.
The Attorney General's actions in New Mexico come as part of a growing number of investigations against Meta and other social media platforms regarding the impact of their platforms on young users.
Meta has repeatedly dismissed claims it poses threats to children.
[Referenced Sources and Additional Information]
- "Meta Sued by Attorneys General Over Handling of Users' Data"
- "Facebook, Instagram Parent Meta to Face Lawsuits Over China Partnership"
- "Meta's Misuse of User Data Under Scrutiny in U.S."
- "Meta Sued by California Justices Over Claims of Deceptive Practices"
- "Meta faces backlash over AI-generated child sexual abuse materials"
The Attorney General of New Mexico voices concerns over Meta potentially deleting data from their test accounts, as stated in the court filing. Earlier, Meta claimed they would only retain information considered relevant for the lawsuit. Meta is facing legal action from various school districts and attorneys general for allegedly harming children, threatening mental health, and invading privacy, claims Meta has repeatedly refuted.
