Meta fined $375m over child safety failures
A court in New Mexico has ordered Meta to pay $375 million in damages after a jury found the company misled users about the safety of its platforms for children. The ruling follows a seven-week trial in which jurors concluded that Meta, which owns Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, exposed young users to harmful content, including sexually explicit material and contact with predators. Raul Torrez described the decision as “historic,” noting it is the first time a US state has successfully held Meta accountable in court over child safety concerns. The jury determined that the company violated consumer protection laws by misleading the public about safeguards for minors. Evidence presented during the trial included internal documents and testimony from former employees indicating that Meta was aware of risks posed to younger users. Among the witnesses was Arturo Béjar, who testified that […]
