States across the country are currently suing Facebook for endangering young users. However, the New Mexico attorney general went a step further this week, filing a suit against the company that explosively claims Facebook has become a “marketplace for predators in search of children.”

According to the lawsuit, the attorney general’s office launched an investigation by creating test profiles on Facebook and Instagram that appeared to belong to teen and preteen users. Not only did these accounts receive inappropriate suggestions from Facebook’s algorithm, but they also attracted potential predators. One of these fake accounts claiming to be a 13-year-old girl attracted nearly 7,000 followers, most of them adult men, and received 3-4 inappropriate pictures a week plus many more invitations to chat privately. However, when the fake profile attempted to report this to Facebook, the company said that it found no violation of its Community Standards.

“Meta’s platforms Facebook and Instagram are a breeding ground for predators who target children for human trafficking, the distribution of sexual images, grooming, and solicitation,” the lawsuit says. “Teens and preteens can easily register for unrestricted accounts because of a lack of age verification. When they do, Meta directs harmful and inappropriate material at them.”

Leaked documents have revealed Facebook knows it has a problem with underaged users. However, this report paints an even worse picture, with the company actively promoting harmful content to minors. While there are already many suits against Facebook moving through the court system, this one could potentially cause the most public outcry, so it’s worth keeping an eye on.

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