THE APEX TIMES
New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez drafts two social media safety bills after landmark Meta lawsuit win
Building on a court victory earlier this year that the attorney general said ordered Meta to pay nearly $900 million, Raúl Torrez is working with state lawmakers on new proposals aimed at strengthening child safety and consumer protections tied to social media platforms.
New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez said he is drafting two bills with state lawmakers to strengthen social media safety requirements for technology companies after the state’s lawsuit against Meta resulted in a major court judgment earlier this year. Torrez described the effort as a follow-on to the state’s “landmark” win, which centered on how platforms handle child safety and related harms.
The attorney general’s office said the new legislation effort is intended to bolster consumer protections and child-focused safeguards online, expanding the reach of the state’s enforcement approach beyond the courtroom. According to The Guardian, the drafting process is underway with negotiations among lawmakers to shape the measures into proposals for the legislative calendar.
Torrez’s push comes after New Mexico’s case against Meta, which the Guardian report says led to a court outcome tied to nearly $900 million. In the wake of that result, state officials are seeking to translate the court victory into additional statutory tools that can impose obligations directly on companies operating in New Mexico.
While the Guardian report does not detail bill text or specific requirements, it characterizes the bills as aimed at improving child safety measures and strengthening consumer protections. The report also frames the legislative work as part of a broader strategy by Torrez to press technology companies on how their products affect minors and consumers.
The legislative proposals are expected to face questions typical of state technology regulation: what specific conduct will be required, how compliance would be measured, and what penalties or enforcement mechanisms would apply. Any state rules affecting online platforms would also need to be examined in light of constitutional considerations, including the limits of government regulation as it relates to speech and due process for regulated parties.
New Mexico lawmakers will determine whether Torrez’s drafts become bill introductions, and if so, whether they advance through committee hearings and the full legislative process. If enacted, the practical effect would depend on how the bills define covered platforms, the standards for child-safety compliance, the timing of implementation, and the legal remedies available to the state and affected consumers.
Why It Matters
- The bills represent an effort by New Mexico to convert a major court enforcement win into additional statutory requirements for technology companies operating within the state.
- If the measures advance, they would add a new regulatory layer that could shape platform compliance obligations and enforcement timelines.
- Because the proposals relate to social media and safety standards affecting minors, they are likely to raise implementation and constitutional scrutiny questions during the legislative process.
Key Facts
- New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez is drafting two bills with state lawmakers related to social media safety.
- The effort follows New Mexico’s lawsuit against Meta that the Guardian report says resulted in a nearly $900 million court outcome earlier this year.
- The report describes the proposed legislation as focused on consumer protections and child safety measures for online platforms.
- Torrez’s office is presenting the legislative initiative as a continuation of the state’s enforcement agenda after the court victory.