A New Mexico court in the United States has ordered social media giant Meta to pay an additional $567 million in damages for allegedly failing to provide adequate warnings to the public regarding child safety risks.
New Mexico District Judge Bryan Biedscheid stated that Meta had become a “public nuisance” and ordered the creation of a special fund to reduce future harm.
The latest ruling follows an earlier $375 million penalty imposed on Meta in the same case, bringing the total financial penalty against the company to $942 million.
In his ruling, the judge compared Meta’s platforms to a factory, stating that its products, including advertisements and content, contribute to social harms such as mental health impacts on children and risks of sexual exploitation.
Meta has rejected the ruling and announced that it will appeal the decision. The company said it continues to work on improving user safety and addressing harmful content and malicious actors on its platforms.
The case was initially filed by the State of New Mexico in 2023, alleging that Meta’s recommendation algorithms directed young users toward harmful content and sexual predators.
