Judge rules Meta caused "public nuisance" and must fund mental health treatment
New Mexico judge orders $567M fund to help address youth mental health crisis.
A New Mexico judge has ruled Meta Corporation must fund a $567 million mental health treatment program, citing the social media giant's creation of a "public nuisance" stemming from its platforms. This order supplements a previous $375 million civil penalty imposed on Meta by a jury in the same legal case. The lawsuit was initiated by New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez in Santa Fe County court back in 2023.
In March 2026, a jury pronounced Meta's social media services, including Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, as having failed to adequately shield minors from child exploitation and had misled parents about their safety. This marks the second phase of the legal proceedings against Meta, with the first phase focusing on consumer protection violations and misleading advertising claims. Judge Bryan Biedscheid, in his decision, outlined the Judge's rationale behind the $567 million ruling.
Meta Company, known for its lucrative social media platforms, reported a revenue of $60.8 billion and a net income of $15.85 billion in its second quarter of 2026. The full article provides further details on the case.
Written by urgent.news from Ars Technica Policy's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
