Meta ordered to pay almost $1bn over child safety failings

Meta has been ordered to pay a further $567m (£421m) after a US judge found the social media company had created a “public nuisance” linked to harm caused to children using its platforms.

The latest ruling brings the total financial consequences of the New Mexico case to $942m, following a $375m civil penalty imposed earlier this year.

Judge Bryan Biedscheid ordered Meta to pay $567m into a fund designed to address harm to young people associated with its platforms, including Facebook and Instagram.

Around $420m of the fund will be used to provide treatment services for young people, with the remaining money allocated to areas including prevention and awareness programmes, screening services and other costs over the next five years.

The ruling follows a case brought against Meta by New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez in 2023.

In March, a jury found Meta liable for violations of New Mexico’s consumer protection laws, including engaging in unfair, deceptive and unconscionable trade practices.

The jury imposed $375m in civil penalties after finding against Meta in the first phase of the case.

The latest ruling goes beyond financial penalties and requires changes to how Meta operates its platforms for younger users in New Mexico.

Among the measures ordered by the court, Meta must delete accounts belonging to users under the age of 13, along with personal information collected from those accounts.

The company has also been ordered to introduce additional protections for young users, including measures relating to screen time and platform features.

The case centred on allegations that Meta’s platforms exposed children to risks including sexual exploitation and harms to their mental health.

Meta has disputed the allegations made against the company and is expected to appeal the decision.

The New Mexico ruling comes amid wider legal scrutiny of the impact of social media platforms on children and young people in the US, with Meta facing a number of other cases concerning the design and safety of its platforms.

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