Meta Fined $567m Over Child Safety Failures in Landmark US Ruling
Meta is facing the largest fine for child safety concerns, with a $567 million fine for the company’s social media platforms exposing children to harmful content and contacts.
A New Mexico judge has found that Meta’s platforms, such as Instagram and Facebook, played a role in the risks children face and that the company is a “public nuisance”. The new fine raises the total amount Meta has been ordered to pay in the case to $942 million.
The case started in 2023 when New Mexico state attorneys filed a lawsuit against Meta alleging the company was exposing children to sexually explicit content and sexual predators. In a previous ruling, the court determined that the company’s recommendation systems could push young users to bad content and bad contacts.
The decision is important from a child protection standpoint because it is not just a monetary penalty. The judge directed Meta to create a fund to compensate for harms suffered by children already, including $420 million for clinical and behavioural health programmes and professionals.
The company also needs to implement further measures, such as blocking adults from messaging under-18s and not suggesting children’s accounts to adults. Other changes include limiting nudity in sent and received messages, reducing notifications and putting in place monthly usage caps for young users.
Meta has rejected the ruling and said it plans to appeal.
The case serves as a reminder of the increasing focus on the design and operation of social media services for children. It also highlights the importance of improved online safeguarding, effective parental and professional support and platform accountability to minimise children’s exposure to exploitation and harmful online experiences.
The decision may give a boost to worldwide calls for more robust measures to protect children online, and similar legal and regulatory initiatives are currently being pursued in the US, UK and European Union.
