A US judge in New Mexico has ordered Meta to pay $567 million for failing to protect children on its platforms, bringing total fines in the case to $942 million. The ruling marks the largest child safety penalty against the social media giant and is believed to be the first time a social media company has been…
A federal judge in New Mexico has imposed a substantial penalty against Meta, ordering the company to pay $567 million in addition to previously mandated fines of $375 million in the same case. Judge Bryan Biedscheid characterized Meta's platforms as constituting a "public nuisance" comparable to industrial pollution, finding that the company's recommendation algorithms systematically expose young users to harmful content and predatory contacts. The combined $942 million in penalties represents the largest fine Meta has faced specifically over child safety concerns.
The case originated from a 2023 lawsuit brought by New Mexico state attorneys, who argued that Meta's platforms endangered children by exposing them to sexually explicit material and facilitating contact with sexual predators. In the first phase of the trial, Meta was found to have repeatedly violated the state's Unfair Practices Act through its content recommendation systems. Judge Biedscheid ruled that the harms caused by Meta's operations extend beyond its platforms and create burdens on families, schools, hospitals, and law enforcement across society.
Under the court's order, Meta must establish a fund to address the documented harms. Of the $567 million penalty, $420 million is designated for clinical and behavioral health programs treating children affected by Meta's platforms. Additional funding will support training for teachers and health professionals on recognizing and addressing social media-related harms. The ruling also imposes operational restrictions on Meta, including prohibitions on adults messaging underage users, banning like counts for users under 18, and implementing mandatory usage limits of approximately three hours daily for minors across Facebook and Instagram.
Meta has stated it disagrees with the ruling and intends to appeal, emphasizing its efforts to maintain platform safety and address challenges in identifying harmful content. The company faces thousands of additional lawsuits in the United States on similar grounds, with another major trial involving nearly three dozen state attorneys general set to begin in California next week.
