US Court Orders Meta to Pay $567 Million Over Child Safety Concerns

A New Mexico state court judge, Bryan Biedscheid, has ordered Meta to pay $567 million following a lawsuit brought by Attorney General Raul Torrez. The court found that the company failed to protect children and teenagers from online harm, including sexual exploitation, and designed its platforms to be addictive. The ruling follows a previous court decision in March that had already imposed a penalty of $375 million against the company in the first phase of the legal proceedings.

The court determined that Meta's operations constituted a public nuisance within the state. Under the terms of the order, a significant portion of the $567 million will be directed toward a fund for youth mental health services, treatment, and rehabilitation. The remaining funds are allocated for public awareness, prevention, and screening initiatives over the next five years. Meta is also required to implement new safety protocols for young users on its Facebook and Instagram platforms.