In a child safety case in New Mexico, Meta was sentenced to pay $375 million.

In a case filed by the state attorney general, which accused Meta Platforms of deceiving users about the security of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp and of permitting child sexual abuse on those platforms, a New Mexico jury on Tuesday determined that the firm had broken state law.

The jury concluded that Meta had broken New Mexico’s consumer protection legislation after less than a day of deliberation and mandated that the business pay $375 million in civil penalties.

In light of the numerous lawsuits the business is facing about the impact of its platforms on the mental health of young people, the verdict represents the first time a jury has rendered a decision on such accusations against Meta.

A representative for Meta said in a statement, “We respectfully disagree with the verdict and will appeal.”

“We put a lot of effort into keeping users safe on our platforms, and we understand how difficult it can be to find and eliminate harmful content or bad actors.”

Democratic New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez described the decision as “a historic victory for every child and family who has paid the price for Meta’s choice to put profits over kids’ safety” in a statement.

He stated, “The significant damages the jury ordered Meta to pay should send a clear message to big tech executives that no company is beyond the reach of the law.”

Torrez stated that his office will petition the court to require Meta to modify its platforms in order to protect children and to inflict further financial penalties during a second round of the trial in May.

Following the ruling, Meta shares saw a 0.8% increase in after-hours trading. The jury was asked by the state to grant damages exceeding $2 billion.