A US judge in New Mexico has ordered Meta to pay an additional $567 million following the company’s failure to adequately warn the public about the dangers its platforms present to children. This decision represents the largest ruling against the social media giant regarding child safety concerns to date.
Judge Bryan Biedscheid issued the order on Thursday, declaring the company a "public nuisance" comparable to air pollution. Under the court's mandate, the funds are to be placed into a designated account aimed at mitigating future harms. This new penalty is in addition to a $375 million fine previously ordered against Meta in the same legal case.
In his assessment, Judge Biedscheid likened the operations of the social media firm to a factory. He described advertising and content as the company's primary products, while characterizing the "psychological harm and sexual exploitation of children" as the "pollution that must be abated."
Meta, which maintains ownership and oversight of platforms including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Threads, has been reached for comment regarding the ruling. Regarding the earlier $375 million verdict, the company has previously indicated its intention to pursue an appeal.
The ruling arrives as Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg faces an increasing volume of litigation centered on the impact of his company's platforms on child safety.
A US judge in New Mexico on Thursday ordered Meta to pay another $567m (£421m) for its failure to warn the public about dangers its platforms posed to children, marking the largest ruling against the company over child safety.
