Sources detail how Meta's $17.1B settlement with state AGs came together as Meta wanted to avoid going to trial following losses in cases in LA and New Mexico (New York Times)

Meta has agreed to a $17.1 billion settlement with state attorneys general in the US. According to the New York Times, Meta wanted to avoid going to trial following losses in cases in Los Angeles and New Mexico. The social media giant's new top lawyer brought a huge settlement to the table after state attorneys general spent months in negotiations.

The settlement puts pressure on Meta's competitors, with some experts saying it may steer an industry standard on kids' online safety. Meta's settlement with nearly every state in the country may prompt other platforms to implement similar measures, with growing awareness of social media harms.

Meta has promised to implement new age restriction safeguards over the next decade as part of the settlement. Some experts believe it makes sense for Meta to roll out its restrictions elsewhere, and that the growing awareness of social media harms may pressure other platforms to do the same.

Brief written by urgent.news from Techmeme, TechRadar, CNBC Technology, The Hill, CNA - Singapore — 5 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.