Meta Faces $567m Fine in Largest Child‑Safety Verdict
A New Mexico judge on Thursday ordered Meta to pay another $567 million for failing to warn the public about dangers its platforms posed to children, marking the largest ruling against the company over child safety.
Judge Bryan Biedscheid described Meta as a "public nuisance" akin to air pollution and said its money must be placed in a fund aimed at reducing future harms. The ruling adds to the $375 million fine that Meta had already been ordered to pay.
Biedscheid compared Meta to a factory, with advertising and content as its product and "psychological harm and sexual exploitation of children" as the pollution that must be abated. Meta owns and operates Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp and Threads.
Meta was contacted by the BBC for comment. The company indicated it intends to appeal the earlier $375 million verdict.
