Gaza border crossing buzzes with activity after years of near-complete closure

CAIRO (AP) — Gaza'sRafah border crossingwith Egypt was busy with activity Sunday as Israel said that limited travel to and from the territory is set to resume after years of near-complete isolation. Reopening the border crossing is a key step as the Israel-Hamas ceasefire moves ahead.

Egypt Mideast Wars Gaza

Israel announced Sunday that the crossing has opened in a test. COGAT, the Israeli military agency that controls aid to Gaza, said in a statement that the crossing was actively being prepared for fuller operation, adding that residents of Gaza would begin to pass through the crossing once preparations were complete.

Palestinian security officers passed through the crossing's Egyptian gate and headed toward the Palestinian gate to join an EU mission that will be supervising exit and entry, said an Egyptian official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to talk to the media. Ambulances also crossed through the Egyptian gate, the official added.

The head of the new Palestinian administrative committee governing Gaza's daily affairs has said travel in both directions would start Monday.

Rafah, which Palestinians see as their gateway to the world, has been largely shut since it was seized by Israel in May 2024.

Few people will be allowed at first, and no goods allowed to cross. About 20,000 Palestinian children and adults needing medical care are hoping to leavewar-devastated Gazavia the crossing, and thousands of other Palestinians outside the territory hope to return home.

Zaher al-Wahidi, head of the Health Ministry's documentation department in Gaza, told The Associated Press that the ministry hasn't yet been notified about the start of medical evacuations.

Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahuhas said Israel will allow 50 patients a day to leave. An official involved in the discussions, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the diplomatic talks, said each patient would be allowed to travel with two relatives, while some 50 people who left Gaza during the war would be allowed to return each day.

Advertisement

Israel has said it and Egypt will vet people for exit and entry through the crossing, which will be supervised byEuropean Unionborder patrol agents. The number of travelers is expected to increase over time if the system is successful.

Israeli troops seized and closed the Rafah crossing in May 2024, calling it part of efforts to combat Hamas arms smuggling. The crossing was briefly opened for the evacuation of medical patients during a ceasefire in early 2025. Israel had resisted reopening the Rafah crossing, but the recovery of the remains of thelast hostage in Gazalast week cleared the way to move forward.

The reopening is a key step as last year's U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreement, which took effect on Oct. 10, moves into its second phase.

Before the war, Rafah was the main crossing for people moving in and out of Gaza. Although Gaza has four other border crossings, they are shared with Israel. Under the ceasefire terms, Israel's military controls the area between the Rafah crossing and the zone where most Palestinians live.

Fearing that Israeli could use the crossing to push Palestinians out of the enclave, Egypt has repeatedly said it must be open for both entry to and exit from Gaza. Historically, Israel and Egypt have vetted Palestinians applying to cross.

The current ceasefire halted more than two years of war between Israel and Hamas that began with a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. The truce's first phase called for the exchange of all hostages held in Gaza for hundreds of Palestinians held by Israel, an increase in badly needed humanitarian aid and a partial pullback of Israeli troops.

The second phase is more complicated. It calls for installing a new Palestinian committee to govern Gaza, deploying an international security force, disarming Hamas, and taking steps to begin rebuilding.

Find more of AP's coverage athttps://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war

byAdministrator

in

February 01, 2026

Gaza border crossing buzzes with activity after years of near-complete closure

CAIRO (AP) — Gaza'sRafah border crossingwith Egypt was busy with activity Sunday as Israel said that limited travel ...

Read More

These nets used to catch fish. Now they’re catching Russian drones

Nets once used to protect tulips in the Netherlands are getting a new lease of life – protecting Ukrainian soldiers and civilians fromRussian drones.

So are discarded fishing nets and all sorts of mesh that can stop a drone from hitting its target. Across Europe, farmers and fishermen are collecting such items in an effort to save lives thousands of miles away.

Russia's drones target the Ukrainian army's supply routes and rear bases, often threatening to cut off units on the front lines. But they alsostrike hospitals and civilian traffic.

One area frequently subject to drone attacks is the southern city of Kherson, and what the Ukrainians call the "roads of life" that connect it with the outside world – routes that are protected from Russian attacks as far as possible.

"On average, the Russians launch about 2,500 UAVs on our communities every week. As a result of these attacks, 120 people have died in the Kherson region this year," Oleksandr Tolokonnikov, deputy head of the Kherson Military Administration, told CNN in November.

The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine said it verified that2,514 civilians were killedand 12,142 injured in conflict-related violence in 2025, many of them far from the front lines.

Over the past year, a growing number of nets have been strung up. Hospital courtyards, generators and shopping streets in the city are now protected. On open roads, poles are used to provide a canopy of netting.

"Work is now underway to reinforce roads – dozens of kilometers of routes are already protected by nets," Tolokonnikov said, explaining that a wide variety of nets have been tested for their durability.

"Thanks to a combination of measures and bold decisions, our military is now able to destroy 80-95% of the drones that the Russians launch at our communities."

Tulips and tuna

The nets are being trucked across Europe by a variety of volunteer groups. One of the largest – Life Guardians – is run by Klaas Pot in the Netherlands. His team has sent more than 8,000 tons of nets to Ukraine, he says, about half the total received.

Pot began by collecting nets to be used as camouflage for Ukrainian soldiers.

"I knew that these nets had more potential, because they were already starting to use them for anti-drone purposes," Pot told CNN.

"I know that, for instance, the road between Kherson and Mykolaiv is particularly dangerous and they have made a 'road of life' there," he said, adding that at least part of it is protected by the nets his team have collected.

Tulip nets are made from warp-knitted polyethylene and are lightweight and durable. Normally, they cover bulbs in the ground and are mechanically lifted to streamline harvesting. They can thwart small FPV (first-person view) drones and quadcopters, which are used in their thousands on and beyond the front lines.

Fishing nets are stronger than the tulip nets, Pot said, and so are used more often to protect tanks and artillery. Now, he explained, they are also being used to defend Ukraine's electricity infrastructure, which comes under Russian drone attack almost daily.

Other groups across Europe have joined in. Operation Change in Sweden collects nets that have gone unused by fishermen because of EU fishing quotas, sending some 400 tons of them to Ukraine to date. Norwegian Volunteer Aid has sent salmon-fishing nets that would normally be recycled after use. And in the United Kingdom, the groupPickups For Peacehas included fishing nets from Scottish ports such as Fraserburgh among its regular aid convoys to Ukraine.

During a visit to France in November, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky took time off from diplomacy to thank a group of French fishermen who are collecting old nets from deep-sea vessels fishing for tuna and other species.

The group, calledKernic Solidarités, has already sent heavy-duty horse-hair nets totaling 280 kilometers in length to Ukraine.

"You are people with big hearts," Zelensky told them. "I think you cannot even imagine how many lives have been saved thanks to your help."

The Ukrainian military is especially keen on more supplies of thicker fishing nets.

"There have been several cases where the guys caught (larger Russian) Lancet drones in them," according to Yuriy Andrusenko, of the 1020th anti-aircraft missile and artillery regiment.

The Lancet can carry two or three kilograms of explosives and reaches speeds of up to 150 kilometers per hour (93 mph) when attacking.

"Fishing net will hold it, it simply stops it," Andrusenko told CNN.

As the stockpile of surplus nets in the Netherlands and Denmark is depleted, Pot is looking elsewhere to keep the pipeline going. "The project is far from finished, and we will be expanding throughout Europe," he said.

"All our partners have the same motivation, and that is to help Ukraine and to stand on the right side of history."

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account atCNN.com

byAdministrator

in

February 01, 2026

These nets used to catch fish. Now they’re catching Russian drones

Nets once used to protect tulips in the Netherlands are getting a new lease of life – protecting Ukrainian soldiers and civilians fromRuss...

Read More

French tech company Capgemini says selling US subsidiary

PARIS, Feb 1 (Reuters) - French tech company Capgemini said ​on Sunday it was ‌selling its U.S. subsidiary Capgemini Government ‌Solutions.

Capgemini has been under pressure in recent days to explain a contract it signed ⁠with U.S ‌immigration enforcement agency ICE, amid growing criticism of ‍ICE following weeks of protests against U.S. President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown.

Advertisement

"Capgemini ​considered that the usual legal ‌constraints imposed in the United States on contracting with federal entities conducting classified activities did not allow the Group ⁠to exercise appropriate ​control over ​certain aspects of this subsidiary's operations in order to ‍ensure alignment ⁠with the Group's objectives," it said in a ⁠statement.

(Reporting by Sybille de La Hamaide ‌and Betrand Boucey; Editing ‌by Alexander Smith)

byAdministrator

in

February 01, 2026

French tech company Capgemini says selling US subsidiary

PARIS, Feb 1 (Reuters) - French tech company Capgemini said ​on Sunday it was ‌selling its U.S. subsidiary Capgemini Gov...

Read More

A year after losing Luka Dončić, the Mavs have brighter days ahead because of Cooper Flagg

HOUSTON — A flummoxed Cooper Flagg was the first Maverick to emerge from the tunnel at halftime, using his right hand to slap against his thigh, visibly frustrated with how his team had turned a one-point game into an eight-point deficit in five minutes.

That the 19-year-old was leading the procession into the Dallas locker room was not lost on the occasion, nor was it out of the ordinary. Leadership and poise are two of the most common words associated with the No. 1 pick when his older, more experienced teammates are asked to describe Flagg. His broad shoulders and body language being the telltale signs of the Mavericks' mood are no surprise halfway through his rookie season.

But the sudden presence of everything else — the burning sense of urgency to win, the rapidly developing awareness of momentum, and more profoundly, what's expected of him — is why Dallas' newfound direction under Flagg instills hope.

"I feel confident," Flagg said following his 34-point, 12-rebound, 5-assist performance ina 111-107 loss to Houston, which is fourth in the West. "Getting to my spots, making some shots. When I play with confidence and a downhill mentality, it's really good for our team. The guys are pushing me to be aggressive, and I'm trying to do what's best for the team."

A year ago,the Mavericks traded Luka Dončić to the Lakers in the middle of the night, undoubtedly the most shocking transaction in NBA history. The foregoing of everything Dončić' brought to the table — his gravity, otherworldly offensive arsenal and his ability to raise the ceiling of a franchise — ushered in a new era of uncertainty for a Dallas team that was on the cusp of a title less than eight months prior. Anthony Davis, the central returning piece, was immediately thrust into then-general manager Nico Harrison's grand plans of contention.

But an extended trip down revisionist lane serves no good purpose. The Mavericks were never able to manifest their plans of a championship triumvirate; Kyrie Irving, offseason addition Klay Thompson and Davis have yet to play a game together. The basketball gods smiled down on the Mavs, however. The ping-pong balls fell their way, and Flagg landed graciously in their lap. Harrison was later relieved of his duties.

Suddenly, Flagg became the symbol of desperation. Desperation of a Mavericks fanbase emotionally torn from the departure of one of their own and the arrival of something new. Desperation of a Dallas front office searching for a centripetal young force. Desperation of the NBA seeking a fresh, exciting storyline.

For a teenager, the weight of expectations and anticipation can be overwhelming. But Flagg, who's scored 83 points over his last two games and is operating at a 22.2-point, 6.6-rebound, 4.7-assist clip since Dec. 1, it's evident he's no ordinary kid.

"A lot of maturity and poise coming from him," teammate Max Christie told Yahoo Sports. "He's 19 years old, already becoming an avid leader on this team. It shows with his play but also with the way he acts in the locker room, practice and what not. He's been able to endure a lot and he's been great for us. Very cool to watch him develop and blossom into the player we all know he can be."

The Mavericks, who are now 13-15 over the last two months, continue to slide further away from the final play-in spot, currently occupied by the Los Angeles Clippers. But Dallas' goals — or Flagg's goals, at least — outweigh the potential prospect of a postseason push.

Spend any amount of time around head coach Jason Kidd, and the level of passion, trust and care he's put in Flagg is evident. During games, Kidd can be seen with both hands in his pockets near midcourt, calmly calling out occasional sets for Flagg to run using his fingers — knowing that ball retention is near the top of the rookie's to-do list. According to Cleaning the Glass, the Mavericks commit nearly 3% less turnovers when Flagg is on the floor, an impact metric graded in the 95th percentile.

Flagg is an extremely ball-savvy player who understands spacing, structure and his teammates. But as the weeks and months have progressed, Flagg has become more aware ofhimself, what he can and can't do yet — and how best to leverage his unique skill set. His assist-to-turnover ratio is positive, he encourages ball movement and operates within the flow of the offense. He may not be a traditional point guard — Kidd vehemently pushed back on early criticism regarding Flagg's position and stormed out of Saturday's postgame news conference — but it's clear the rookie needs the ball in his hands more often than he doesn't.

Mavs HC Jason Kidd on early criticisms of playing Cooper Flagg at PG:"I don't give a f— about the criticism. You guys write that bullsh—. I've done this. I've played this game at a very high level. And I know what the f— I'm doing. But I don't give a f— what you guys write."

— Kelly Iko (@KellyIko)February 1, 2026

Advanced metrics like DARKO and LEBRON already consider him closer to a top-100 player than not. Per Bball-Index, Flagg ranks in the 93rd percentile in rim shot creation, 89th in drives per 75 possessions, 97th in rim shot-making efficiency, 97th in finishing talent and among the top 10% in shot creation and transition ability. Flagg is level on drives per game with Amen Thompson and averages more downhill trips than names like Anthony Edwards, LaMelo Ball and De'Aaron Fox. The next evolution in Flagg's game, aside from improving his outside touch and defensive efficiency, is how his presence — or lack thereof — is felt by his team. Dallas, statistically, is a hairline fraction better offensively with him on the floor and worse defensively. The numbers split isn't catastrophic — we're talking about a 19-year-old after all — but it's enough to understand where the growth should continue.

"It's been amazing," Thompson told Yahoo Sports of Flagg's progress. "Especially with his composure down the stretch. He's going to be an amazing player that stays here for a long time, so Mavericks fans are very blessed to have him. It's been awesome to see his growth from game to game. He's gonna be super special."

The next few days in the NBA world will be dominated by trade talks, with Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo at the top of the list, his immediate future uncertain. One thousand miles away, the Mavericks will wait patiently for Flagg to emerge from his cocoon. Dončić's triple-double on Friday was a harsh reminder of Dallas' past. Flagg's 49-point masterclass vs. Charlotte on Thursday, followed up with Saturday's 34-point showing, is yet another reminder of their bright future.

byAdministrator

in

February 01, 2026

A year after losing Luka Dončić, the Mavs have brighter days ahead because of Cooper Flagg

HOUSTON — A flummoxed Cooper Flagg was the first Maverick to emerge from the tunnel at halftime, using his right hand to...

Read More

Alexander Volkanovski defends featherweight title vs. Diego Lopes

In front of a deafening Sydney crowd, UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski survived a fifth-round rally attempt from Diego Lopes to win yet another unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 50-45) in their rematch at UFC 325 Sunday morning.

Just like their first meeting last April at UFC 314, Lopes (27-8 MMA, 6-3 UFC) wouldn't let Volkanovski (28-4 MMA, 15-3 UFC) coast easily, as the first three rounds saw Lopes take Volkanovski's best shots and deliver some of his own. But Volkanovski retaliated with adjustments throughout, utilizing the clinch to cut Lopes's cage room off.

Volkanovski's win was his first title defense during his second reign, ushering in a reinvigorated era at featherweight moving forward.

But for Volkanovski, winning his first fight in his home country in nearly three years with full backing of the Australian crowd felt different.

"I didn't want to stand (with Lopes) for 25 minutes, but we got the job done," Volkanovski said.

Volkanovski said he's excited to get back in the Octagon soon, saying he would "see what's next" with his team.

Lopes was humble in defeat, although he had a visible reaction to the one judge who ruled all five rounds in Volkanovski's favor.

"I think Volkanovski is one of the best in the division and has been for this long," the Brazilian competitor said.

Lopes called this part of the journey "step-by-step," as he prepares for an uncertain next fight after his second failed championship match against the future Hall of Famer.

Advertisement

Lightweight Benoit Saint-Denis of France effortlessly defeated New Zealand's Dan Hooker by second-round TKO in the night's co-main event with punches from the mount position.

Saint-Denis (17-3 MMA, 9-3 UFC) has put himself in a firm position to remain in title contention this year with four straight wins, while Hooker (24-14 MMA, 14-10 UFC) has dropped back-to-back fights and will continue to go back to the drawing board.

A devastating right hand from lightweight Mauricio Ruffy of Brazil marked the beginning of the end of a high-stakes featured bout opposite Rafael Fiziev of Azerbaijan. Ruffy (13-2 MMA, 4-1 UFC) secured a TKO victory with 30 seconds left in the second round, bouncing back from a loss to Saint-Denis for his eighth win in the last nine fights.

As for Fiziev (13-5 MMA, 7-5 UFC), he has lost four of his last five outings since his six-match win streak was snapped in March 2023.

In the second bout of the main card, heavyweights took center stage as Brazil's Tallison Teixeira outworked Australia's Tai Tuivasa to win a unanimous decision 29-28, 29-28, 29-28 using crisp striking and dominant wrestling through the first two rounds to put Tuivasa in survival mode entering Round 3.

A rally by Tuivasa in an attempt to secure a comeback KO/TKO stoppage fell short. Teixeira (9-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC) handed Tuivasa (15-9 MMA, 8-9 UFC) his sixth straight loss dating back to September 2022.

The UFC 325 main card opened with lightweight Quillan Salkilld doing his part by not fooling the oddsmakers, making quick work of Jamie Mullarkey with a rear-naked-choke submission finish at 3:02 of the opening round in a battle of Australian competitors.

Salkilld (11-1 MMA, 4-0 UFC) closed at DraftKings Sportsbook at -1050, making him the largest betting favorite on the card. Meanwhile, Mullarkey (18-9 MMA, 6-7 UFC) has lost three of his last four.

The UFC does not have a numbered event scheduled in February, with UFC 326 scheduled for March 7 in Las Vegas. The promotion returns to Las Vegas next Saturday for its first UFC Fight Night event of the year from the Meta APEX (formerly UFC APEX).

-Field Level Media

byAdministrator

in

February 01, 2026

Alexander Volkanovski defends featherweight title vs. Diego Lopes

In front of a deafening Sydney crowd, UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski survived a fifth-round rally ...

Read More

Justin Rose enters final round at Farmers with 6-shot lead

England's Justin Rose might be too far ahead for the rest of the golfers in the Farmers Insurance Open to catch up.

Rose shot a 4-under-par 68 on Saturday in the third round to carry a six-stroke lead into the final round in San Diego.

Despite three bogeys on the Torrey Pines South Course's back nine, Rose enters Sunday's play at 21-under 195 for the tournament.

Joel Dahmen also posted a 68, putting him in second place. Japan's Ryo Hisatsune (68) and South Korea's Si Woo Kim (69) share third place at 13 under. Max McGreevy (71) is next at 12 under.

"If Justin makes his tee time and continues to play this way, he's going to win the golf tournament," Dahmen said. "He's just playing too well."

Rose is looking for his second title at Torrey Pines, where he won in 2019 with a 21-under score.

On Saturday, Rose was 4 under through seven holes and added a birdie on No. 10 before a pair of bogeys. His birdie on the 13th hole got him back on track, while he finished the round with a birdie putt from about 3 1/2 feet on the par-5 18th.

"I played well, gave myself a lot of chances," Rose said after the round. "In some ways, yeah, you walk off thinking maybe it could have been lower, you know. You never want to say that after a 68 at Torrey or obviously being in the position that I'm in, but yeah I played really, really well today."

Maverick McNealy (70), Germany's Stephan Jaeger (65) and Ireland's Seamus Power (74) are at 11 under.

Jaeger had the best round of the day with all pars and birdies. Defending champion Harris English recorded a 67 and sits tied for 20th at 8 under through three rounds.

"Happy to turn around and have a really nice round," Jaeger said.

Jaeger had only one birdie Friday. He said he adjusted his putting grip and that paid off.

"I think I'm going to try them again (Sunday)," he said. "I putted really nicely today so it's going to stay for a while."

The next-best rounds of 4 under were turned in by Adam Schenk and Keith Mitchell -- both at 9 under -- along with Australia's Jason Day, Rose, Hisatsune and Dahmen.

Brooks Koepka, in his first tournament since defecting from the LIV Golf ranks, won't factor in the final round after posting his second 73 of the tournament during an erratic round. He's at 2 under and tied for 61st.

Koepka said he was nervous upon making his return. Now playing on the weekend, he's relieved regarding the reception he has received.

"It has been phenomenal," Koepka said. "It has been overwhelming. It has been very cool. I don't know what I expected, but this is beyond what I could have dreamed of."

Chris Gotterup, who won the season-opening Sony Open a couple of weekends ago, said golfers are anxious to find positives early in the schedule.

"All of us want to get off to good starts (to the season)," he said.

Gotterup shot 70 for the second straight day and is tied for 20th at 8 under, but he said the course is offering a fair yet challenging test.

"You have to be in the fairway, you have to be in the right spots on the greens," Gotterup said. "Whoever wins this week is going to earn it."

--Field Level Media

byAdministrator

in

February 01, 2026

Justin Rose enters final round at Farmers with 6-shot lead

England's Justin Rose might be too far ahead for the rest of the golfers in the Farmers Insurance Open to catch ...

Read More

Undercover investigation of Meta heads to trial in New Mexico in first stand-alone case by state

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The first stand-alone trial from state prosecutors in a stream of lawsuits againstMetais getting underway in New Mexico, with jury selection starting Monday.

Meta New Mexico Lawsuit

New Mexico's case is built on a state undercover investigation using proxy social media accounts and posing as kids to document sexual solicitations and the response from Meta, the owner of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp. It could give states a new legal pathway to go after social media companies overhow their platforms affect children, by using consumer protection and nuisance laws.

Attorney General Raúl Torrez filed suit in 2023, accusing Meta of creating a marketplace and "breeding ground" for predators who target children for sexual exploitation and failing to disclose what it knew about those harmful effects.

"So many regulators are keyed up looking for any evidence of a legal theory that would punish social media that a victory in that case could have ripple effects throughout the country, and the globe," said Eric Goldman, codirector of the High Tech Law Institute at Santa Clara University School of Law in California. "Whatever the jury says will be of substantial interest."

The trial, with opening statements scheduled for Feb. 9, could last nearly two months.

Meta denies the civil charges and says prosecutors are taking a "sensationalist" approach. CEOMark Zuckerbergwas dropped as a defendant in the case, but he has been deposed and documents in the case carry his name.

In California, opening arguments are scheduled this week for a personal injury case in Los Angeles County Superior Court that could determine how thousands of similar lawsuits against social media companies will play out.

The allegations against Meta in New Mexico

Prosecutors say New Mexico is not seeking to hold Meta accountable for content on its platforms, but rather its role in pushing out that content through complex algorithms that proliferate material that can be addictive and harmful to children.

The approach could sidestep immunity provisions for social media platforms under a First Amendment shield andSection 230, a 30-year-old provision of the U.S. Communications Decency Act that has protected tech companies from liability for material posted on their platforms.

An undercover investigation by the state created several decoy accounts for minors 14 and younger, documented the arrival of online sexual solicitations and monitored Meta's responses when the behavior was brought to the company's attention. The state says Meta's responses placed profits ahead of children's safety.

Torrez, a first-term Democrat elected in 2022, has urged Meta to implement more effective age verification and remove bad actors from its platform. He's also seeking changes to algorithms that can serve up harmful material and criticizing end-to-end privacy encryption that can prevent the monitoring of communications with children for safety.

Separately, Torrez brought felony criminal charges of child solicitation by electronic devices against three men in 2024, also using decoy social media accounts to build that case.

How Meta has responded

Advertisement

Meta denies the civil charges while accusing the attorney general of cherry-picking select documents and making "sensationalist, irrelevant and distracting arguments."

In a statement, Meta said ongoing lawsuits nationwide are attempting to place the blame for teen mental health struggles on social media companies in a way that oversimplifies matters. It points to the steady addition of account settings and tools — including safety features that give teens more information about the person they're chatting with and content restrictions based on PG-13 movie ratings.

Goldman says the company is bringing enormous resources to bear in courtrooms this year, including New Mexico.

"If they lose this," he said, "it becomes another beachhead that might erode their basic business."

Many other lawsuits are underway

More than40 state attorneys general have filed lawsuitsagainst Meta, claiming it is harming young people and contributing to the youth mental health crisis by deliberately designing features that addict children to its platforms. The majority filed their lawsuits in federal court.

The bellwether trial underway in California against social video companies, including Meta's Instagram and Google's YouTube, focuses on a 19-year-old who claims her use of social media from an early age addicted her to technology and exacerbated depression and suicidal thoughts. TikTok and Snapchat parent company Snap Inc. settled claims in the case that affects thousands of consolidated plaintiffs.

A federal trial starting in June in Oakland, California, will be the first to represent school districts that have sued social media platforms over harms to children.

In New Mexico, prosecutors also sued Snap Inc. over accusations its platform facilitates child sexual exploitation. Snap says its platform has built-in safety guardrails and "deliberate design choices to make it difficult for strangers to discover minors." A trial date has not been set.

The jury weighs guilt, but a judge has final say on any sanctions

A jury assembled from residents of Santa Fe County, including the politically progressive state capital city, will weigh whether Meta engaged in unfair business practices and to what extent.

But a judge will have final say later on any possible civil penalties and other remedies, and decide the public nuisance charge against Meta.

The state's Unfair Practices Act allows penalties of $5,000 per violation, but it's not yet clear how violations would be tallied.

"The reason the damage potential is so great here is because of how Facebook works," said Mollie McGraw, a Las Cruces-based plaintiff's attorney. "Meta keeps track of everyone who sees a post. … The damages here could be significant."

byAdministrator

in

January 31, 2026

Undercover investigation of Meta heads to trial in New Mexico in first stand-alone case by state

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The first stand-alone trial from state prosecutors in a stream of lawsuits againstMetais getting u...

Read More