Meta Fined Another $567 Million Over Child Safety, Company Says It Will Appeal

A judge in the US state of New Mexico has ordered Meta to pay an additional $567 million after it failed to warn the public about the risks its platforms pose to children, the BBC reports.

Judge Bryan Biedscheid’s ruling brings the total amount Meta must pay in the case to $942 million, including the $375 million imposed earlier. It is considered the largest financial judgment against the company related to child safety.

The judge described Meta as a “public nuisance,” comparing it to air pollution. According to him, the company operates like a factory, with advertising and content as its products, while psychological harm and the sexual exploitation of children constitute the “pollution” that must be prevented. He ordered the $567 million to be paid into a special fund aimed at reducing future harm.

Meta, the owner of Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Threads, said it disagreed with the ruling and would appeal.

“We work every day to keep people safe on our platforms and have been transparent about the challenges involved in identifying and removing malicious actors and harmful content. We are confident in the work we have done to protect teenagers online and will continue to defend ourselves against claims that distort the facts,” the company said in its response.