A New Mexico judge has ordered Meta to pay $567 million in damages, marking the largest penalty ever imposed on the company regarding child safety. Judge Bryan Biedscheid characterized the social media giant as a "public nuisance," drawing a comparison between the company's impact on children and environmental pollution.
This latest financial penalty follows an earlier $375 million fine in the same case, bringing the total amount Meta is required to pay to $942 million. The funds are designated for a program aimed at mitigating harms, with $420 million specifically allocated for behavioral health treatments and professional services. The remainder will support awareness and prevention training for educators and health workers.
The ruling stems from a 2023 lawsuit in which the state of New Mexico argued that Meta’s recommendation algorithms steered minors toward harmful content, including sexually explicit material and contact with predators. In his decision, Judge Biedscheid mandated several operational changes for the company, including a ban on push notifications for minors during school and late-night hours, a 90-hour monthly usage limit, and the removal of "like" counts for users under 18.
Meta, which operates platforms including Facebook and Instagram, has expressed disagreement with the ruling and confirmed its intention to appeal. A company spokesperson stated, "We work hard to keep people safe on our platforms and have been transparent about the challenges of identifying and removing bad actors and harmful content."
This case is part of a broader legal landscape, with Meta facing thousands of lawsuits across the United States. A separate trial involving nearly three dozen state attorneys general is scheduled to begin next week in California, focusing on allegations that the company violated child privacy laws.
Source: BBC News
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