A New Mexico court ruled that Meta must pay another $567 million for endangering the safety of children on its platforms. The company rejects the accusations and announces an appeal
American a judge in the state of New Mexico ordered the company on Thursday Meta, which owns Instagram, Facebook, Vocap and Trades, to pay $567 million for failing to warn the public about the dangers its platforms pose to children, the BBC reported.
This is the largest verdict against the company in connection with the safety of children, and the money will be paid into a fund intended to reduce future damage. The money will be aimed at treating the consequences that Meta’s platforms allegedly caused, funding appropriate clinical and other mental health programs, as well as education and prevention.
Numerous lawsuits against Meta in the US
Judge Brian Bidscheid compared Meta to a factory whose products are advertising and content, while “psychological damage and sexual exploitation of children are pollution that must be removed.”
The Meta announced that they do not agree with the decision and will file an appeal.
The company is currently facing a large number of similar lawsuits across the United States. In addition to the New Mexico rulings, Meta also lost a case in Los Angeles earlier this year on similar grounds. Along with the earlier judgment of $375 million, Meta must now pay a total of $942 million in damages.
The action in New Mexico was triggered by a 2023 lawsuit filed by the state’s attorneys, alleging that Meta should be held liable because its platforms endangered children and exposed them to sexually explicit content and contact with sexual predators.
Source: Vreme
