Meta Ordered To Pay $375M Over Child Exploitation Violations
A US jury has ordered Meta to pay $375 million in penalties for misleading users about safety and enabling harm, including child exploitation. The case was brought by New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez. It marks the first trial to hold Meta liable for misconduct linked to its social media platforms under state consumer protection law. Jurors found Meta made misleading statements about safety and engaged in “unconscionable” business practices that took advantage of young users. They also determined that the company knowingly contributed to issues affecting children’s mental health and safety. The lawsuit argued that platforms like Facebook and Instagram were used by child exploitation networks, and that Meta failed to adequately protect underage users. The evidence included internal company warnings, testimony from law enforcement and child safety experts, and examples of child predators using Meta’s messaging tools. Jurors also reviewed allegations that Meta did not properly enforce age restrictions and that its algorithms amplified harmful content. Meta said it will appeal, stating that it “respectfully disagree[s]” with the verdict, accusing the attorney general of making“sensationalist, irrelevant arguments by cherrypicking select documents.” The court will next consider additional penalties and possible platform changes aimed at improving child safety.
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A jury found both Meta and YouTube liable in a first-of-its-kind lawsuit that aimed to hold social media platforms responsible for harm to children using their services.
