Meta Fined $942m in Largest Child Safety Ruling
A US judge has ordered Meta to pay $942m in fines for its failure to warn the public about dangers its platforms posed to children. The ruling is the largest against the social media giant over child safety and requires Meta to put the money in a fund aimed at reducing future harms.
Key points
- Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Threads, has been ordered to pay $942m in fines for its failure to protect children on its platforms.
- The ruling, made by a US judge in New Mexico, is the largest against Meta over child safety and requires the company to put the money in a fund aimed at reducing future harms.
- The case stems from a 2023 lawsuit brought by New Mexico's attorneys, who argued Meta should be held liable for the way its platforms endangered children and exposed them to harmful content.
- Meta has been found to have repeatedly violated New Mexico's Unfair Practices Act, with its recommendation algorithms 'steering' young users toward harmful content and contacts.
- The company has been contacted for comment, but its previous statement on a related $375m verdict was that it intended to appeal the ruling.
A US judge has ordered Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Threads, to pay $942m in fines for its failure to protect children on its platforms. This ruling is the largest against Meta over child safety and requires the company to put the money in a fund aimed at reducing future harms.
The case stems from a 2023 lawsuit brought by New Mexico's attorneys, who argued Meta should be held liable for the way its platforms endangered children and exposed them to harmful content. In the first phase of the trial, Meta was found to have repeatedly violated New Mexico's Unfair Practices Act, with its recommendation algorithms 'steering' young users toward harmful content and contacts.
Meta has been contacted for comment, but its previous statement on a related $375m verdict was that it intended to appeal the ruling. This latest ruling marks a significant development in the ongoing debate over social media companies' responsibility to protect their users, particularly children.
The implications of this ruling are far-reaching, and it remains to be seen how Meta will respond. The company has faced increasing scrutiny over its handling of child safety, and this ruling may set a precedent for other social media companies to follow.
Sources
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