Meta fined $567m in largest child safety ruling against social media giant

By Nana Karikari, Senior Global Affairs Correspondent A New Mexico state judge has ordered Meta to pay an additional $567 million—approximately 6.67 billion Ghana cedis—for failing to warn the public about the dangers its platforms pose to children. This decision marks the largest fine ever levied against the social media giant over child safety violations. […]

gbcghanaonline.com ·4d ago

A New Mexico judge has ordered the social media giant Meta to pay $567 million in the largest fine ever levied against the company for failing to protect children on its platforms. The ruling follows a legal battle stemming from a 2023 suit brought by state attorneys. The total financial penalty now totals $942 million when combined with a $375 million verdict previously handed down.

Judge Bryan Biedscheid likened Meta to a public nuisance, likening the company's advertising and content to its manufactured products. He likened the psychological harm and sexual exploitation of minors to environmental pollution, requiring immediate remediation. The court determined Meta's recommendation algorithms actively steer young users towards harmful material.

Meta vowed to appeal the decision, insisting it is committed to safeguarding teenagers online. Despite the penalty, which represents a fraction of the company's revenue, Meta faces thousands of similar lawsuits across the United States.

Written by urgent.news from GBC Ghana's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.