Meta fined $567m in largest child safety ruling against social media giant

Meta has been ordered to pay an additional $567 million in a New Mexico child safety case, bringing its total liability in the lawsuit to $942 million. This new penalty follows a $375 million civil penalty imposed by a jury in March, which found the company liable for violating the state's consumer protection laws and knowingly harming children's mental health. The ruling marks a significant judicial action against a social media company regarding the safety of its young users.

The $567 million payment is designated for an abatement fund to support various programs in New Mexico, with a large portion, $420 million, allocated for treatment services for young people. The fund will also cover awareness, prevention, screening services, and other related costs over the next five years. Judge Bryan Biedscheid, who issued the ruling, likened the harmful effects of Meta's platforms on children to pollution that extends beyond the digital realm into the internet and the real world.

Beyond the financial penalties, the court has mandated that Meta implement several new safety measures for youth using Facebook and Instagram in New Mexico. These include monthly limits on teen usage, restrictions on notifications, enhanced controls over interactions between adults and minors, safeguards for AI chatbots, and improved review processes for child sexual abuse reports. Meta has indicated that it disagrees with the latest ruling and plans to appeal the decision.