New Mexico judge orders Meta to pay $567 million in child safety lawsuit

Published Aug 7, 08:49 AM UTC

A New Mexico judge ordered Meta to pay $567 million (around €429 million) over state claims that the company created a 'public nuisance' and harmed children by making them vulnerable to predators on its platforms. The ruling follows a March jury verdict finding Meta liable for violating the state's Unfair Practices Act by misleading consumers about child safety. Prosecutor Linda Singer told jurors that Meta's algorithms directed adults toward content posted by teenage users while the company concealed internal findings about risks to young people. The funds will be used primarily for mental health treatment, with additional allocations for awareness, prevention, and screening programs. The judge also ordered Meta to limit push notifications and usage to 90 hours per month for users under 18, hide 'like counts,' and continue efforts to keep children under 13 off Facebook and Instagram. Meta stated it disagrees with the ruling and will appeal. The case is part of a broader wave of lawsuits against social media companies over alleged harms to children's mental health.