New Mexico AG Proposes Social Media and AI Safety Laws

New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez is reportedly collaborating with state lawmakers to develop two new legislative bills aimed at bolstering consumer protections and child safety in the online realm, including artificial intelligence and chatbots. This initiative comes just one day before 29 state attorneys general are scheduled to present their case against Meta in a federal trial in Oakland, California. The proposed legislation is anticipated to be formally announced in the coming weeks, building upon the momentum gained from a recent legal victory. Torrez indicated his intention to leverage the positive outcomes from previous legal actions, stating, "I think there’s a lot of momentum coming out of our victory in court, and the idea is to build on that momentum." This dual approach highlights efforts on both state and federal levels to address concerns surrounding social media platforms and child well-being. The state-level push, spearheaded by Torrez, aims to build upon New Mexico’s prior $942 million verdict against Meta. Concurrently, Tuesday marks the commencement of opening statements in the federal trial, initiated by a coalition of states including California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey, who collectively sued Meta in 2023. One of the key provisions in Torrez's proposed bills involves the removal of the existing cap on penalties for violations of New Mexico's consumer protection laws. Torrez expressed his commitment to advocating for such reforms at the federal level while also working to enact comprehensive social media safety legislation and update consumer protection statutes within the state. He further revealed that his office is pursuing a separate legal action against Meta concerning data privacy and societal harms, with a trial slated for September. Additionally, Torrez is preparing to file a lawsuit against an artificial intelligence company due to a chatbot that has reportedly fostered emotional attachments with children. A Meta spokesperson stated, "We disagree with the ruling and will appeal," and emphasized the company's efforts to ensure user safety and protect teenagers online, while acknowledging the challenges in identifying and removing harmful content and actors. The New Mexico Attorney General’s office has declined to comment on Fortune's request for further information regarding these developments.