The New Mexico Attorney General announced charges against three men accused of using Meta’s social media platforms to target and solicit sex with underage children. The arrests came after a monthslong undercover operation by the state Department of Justice, where the suspects communicated with decoy accounts. The investigation began in December alongside a civil lawsuit against Meta, alleging the company failed to ensure children’s safety on its platforms. Attorney General Raúl Torrez expressed concern over how easily the suspects found the undercover personas and blamed Meta executives, including CEO Mark Zuckerberg, for prioritizing profits over child safety.
Meta disputed the allegations and stated they use technology to prevent suspicious adults from interacting with children on their apps. The company claimed to work with law enforcement in investigating and prosecuting offenders, hiring child safety experts, and sharing information to root out predators. Despite ongoing efforts by the attorney general’s office to identify predators targeting children, it remains unclear if this work will impact the civil litigation against Meta. Court records revealed internal documents where Meta employees estimated about 100,000 children face sexual harassment daily on the company’s platforms. The three defendants in the criminal case were identified as Fernando Clyde, Marlon Kellywood, and Christopher Reynolds, facing charges including child solicitation by an electronic communication device.
The state attorney general emphasized the seriousness of online threats to children and called for stronger measures by tech companies to protect vulnerable users. He criticized Meta for not taking sufficient steps to prevent predators from targeting children on their platforms, highlighting the importance of addressing these issues in today’s digital age. While Meta reiterated its commitment to child safety and collaboration with law enforcement agencies, the attorney general’s office will continue its efforts to identify and prosecute individuals targeting children for sexual exploitation. The defendants in the criminal case are awaiting trial, with hearings yet to be scheduled, and legal representation being sought for their defense.
The case raises concerns about the prevalence of online predators targeting children and the responsibility of tech companies in safeguarding their platforms. The ongoing battle against determined criminals exploiting digital spaces requires a coordinated effort by law enforcement, prosecutors, and tech companies to ensure the safety of vulnerable users, especially minors. The New Mexico Attorney General’s actions in pursuing charges against individuals soliciting sex with underage children highlight the urgency of addressing online threats and holding perpetrators accountable for their actions. The outcome of this case and the civil lawsuit against Meta will likely have implications for future efforts to protect children from online predators and ensure a safer digital environment for all users.
