Meta ordered to pay $567 million in New Mexico for harming minors

A judge in New Mexico has ordered Meta, the parent company of Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram, to pay $567 million in damages. The ruling stems from a lawsuit filed by the state, which accused the social media giant of causing "public nuisance" and harming minors through its platforms. This latest penalty follows a previous jury decision in March that ordered Meta to pay $375 million in indemnities to New Mexico.

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We disagree with the ruling and will appeal.

The March verdict found that Meta exposed children to predators on its platforms and caused other harms. In response to the new ruling, Meta issued a statement expressing disagreement and announcing its intention to appeal. "We disagree with the ruling and will appeal," a Meta spokesperson told AFP on Thursday. The company maintained its efforts to keep users safe and acknowledged the challenges in identifying and removing malicious actors and harmful content.

The judge's decision also includes unprecedented restrictions on Meta's platforms for five years, specifically targeting minor users in New Mexico. These measures will limit the accumulated usage time for individuals under 18 on Facebook and Instagram to 90 hours per month. New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez, who sued Meta in 2023, stated that the case was about protecting children and ensuring that a major tech company does not profit from practices that endanger young people without consequence.

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We work hard to keep people safe on our platforms and have been transparent about the challenges of identifying and removing malicious actors and harmful content.

Part of the $567 million settlement will be allocated to mental health treatments and prevention programs aimed at safeguarding young users from online risks. The funds are to be paid out over five years. The lawsuit alleged that Meta's algorithms directed adults toward content posted by teenage users, while the company allegedly suppressed internal findings about the risks posed to youth.

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This case has always been about protecting children, defending families, and ensuring that one of the world's largest technology companies cannot profit from practices that endanger young people without facing consequences.