A New Mexico judge ruled Meta must pay $567 million for harm to children, marking the largest verdict in a growing legal campaign against social media firms.
A New Mexico judge ordered Meta to pay $567 million into a fund to address harm caused to children, the largest single ruling in a series of lawsuits targeting social media companies. The decision follows a trial where the state accused Meta of failing to protect minors from exploitation and abuse on its platforms.
The legal campaign against Meta and other tech firms has gained momentum, with prior rulings including a $375 million penalty in March for 37,500 violations of New Mexico’s Unfair Practices Act. An undercover investigation by the state’s attorney general revealed widespread targeting of minors by predators, prompting the initial lawsuit in December 2023.
The verdicts signal a shift in legal precedent, with courts increasingly holding social media platforms accountable for child safety violations. Similar cases are pending in other states, raising potential long-term financial and regulatory risks for the industry.