Meta hit with record $567m fine in landmark child safety ruling – Tech Digest

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Meta has been ordered to pay an additional $567 million fine by a New Mexico state court, marking the largest child safety penalty ever issued against the social media giant.

The punishment stems from Meta’s failure to warn the public about the dangers its platforms pose to children. Presiding Judge Bryan Biedscheid explicitly declared the company a “public nuisance”, comparing its business model to a factory producing toxic pollution.

This massive penalty comes on top of $375 million Meta was already ordered to pay in the earlier phase of the case, bringing its total financial liability in New Mexico to $942 million.

The fine is exceptionally large because the court categorised Meta’s algorithmic practices as a widespread societal hazard. Rather than a routine regulatory breach, the judge ruled that the psychological harm, addiction and exposure to sexual predators generated by Facebook and Instagram spill over into the real world, impacting families, schools, and hospitals.

The funds will establish a specialised abatement fund. The majority ($420 million) will directly fund behavioural health and clinical treatment programs for young people, while the rest will support prevention training and awareness. Meta was also hit with strict operational mandates, including monthly teen usage caps, night-time notification curfews, and the removal of “like” counts for minors.

Meta strongly disagrees with the verdict and has confirmed plans to appeal, maintaining confidence in its safety record. Despite the record-breaking figures, industry analysts note that the penalty is a fraction of Meta’s overall earnings, which recently saw quarterly revenues hit $61 billion.

Further fines are virtually guaranteed as legal pressure mounts. Meta is currently facing thousands of parallel lawsuits across the United States, including a high-stakes multi-state trial in California involving dozens of state attorneys general.

Legal experts believe these aggressive US court actions will empower international regulators in regions such as the UK and Europe to pursue even tougher compliance rules.

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