A US judge in New Mexico on Thursday ordered Meta to pay an additional $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 declared the social media giant a 'public nuisance,' akin to air pollution, and mandated the funds be placed in a trust to mitigate future harms.

This ruling adds to the $375 million Meta was already ordered to pay in the case, bringing the total to $942 million. The judge compared Meta to a factory, where advertising and content are the product, and 'the psychological harm and sexual exploitation of children' is the pollution that must be abated. Meta has announced it will appeal the decision.

The case stems from a 2023 lawsuit by the State of New Mexico, arguing Meta should be held liable for endangering children through exposure to sexually explicit material and contact with predators. In the first phase, Meta was found to have violated the state's Unfair Practices Act as its recommendation algorithms 'steered' young users toward harmful content.

The judge ordered Meta to implement sweeping measures, including banning adult recommendations to users under 18, prohibiting adults from messaging minors, removing 'like' counts for minors, and enforcing a 90-hour monthly usage limit on Instagram and Facebook. Additionally, Meta must fund $420 million for clinical programs to treat affected children and $147 million for training educators and health professionals.

This landmark ruling marks the first time a social media company has been deemed a public nuisance. Meta faces thousands of similar lawsuits across the US, with a major trial starting next week in California, where over 30 states' attorneys general are suing the company for violating child privacy laws.

Source: www.bbc.co.uk