US court fines Meta $567 million over children
A court in New Mexico, US, ordered Meta to pay $567 million in damages on Thursday, following a ruling that the tech giant caused “public harm” and injured children through its platforms, according to AFP.
The judgment comes months after a jury in March held Meta responsible for exposing children to danger on its platforms, making them more vulnerable to online predators, among other harms, and ordered the company to pay $375 million at that time.
In a statement cited by AFP, Meta said, “We disagree with this ruling and will appeal,” adding that it is working to maintain user safety on its platforms and has been “transparent about the challenges related to identifying and removing bad actors and harmful content.”
New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez filed the lawsuit in 2023 against the company that owns Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, accusing it of failing to protect children from online risks.
During closing arguments, prosecutor Linda Singer said Meta’s algorithms were directing adults to content posted by teenage users, and accused the company of hiding internal study results regarding risks facing teenagers.
In March, the jury concluded that Meta violated New Mexico’s Unfair Practices Act by misleading consumers about the safety level of its products for children.
Attorney General Raúl Torrez said in a statement after the ruling: “This case has always been about protecting children and supporting families, and ensuring that one of the largest technology companies in the world cannot profit from practices that endanger young people without accountability.”
He added: “Today’s decision is a victory for every parent worried about the impact of social media on their children, and for every child who deserves to grow up in a safer online environment.”
Under the ruling, approximately three-quarters of the $567 million in damages will be allocated to fund mental health treatment, to be paid out over five years, while the remainder will be directed toward awareness, prevention, screening, and assessment programs.
The court also ordered Meta to provide updates twice a year on the measures it is taking to comply with the ruling.
For its part, the company reaffirmed that it remains “confident in its record of protecting teenagers online,” emphasizing that it will continue to defend itself against what it described as “claims that distort the facts.”
