New York [US], August 7 – Meta has been ordered to pay an additional $567 million in damages after a US judge ruled that the social media giant failed to adequately warn users about the risks its platforms pose to children.
The ruling issued on Thursday by a judge in New Mexico is regarded as the largest judgment against Meta in litigation related to child safety.
Judge Brian Biedscheid described Meta as a public nuisance comparing the company’s impact on children to air pollution. He ordered the additional damages to be placed into a dedicated fund aimed at preventing further harm to children.
The latest award comes on top of an earlier $375 million penalty in the same case bringing Meta’s total financial liability to $942 million.
In his ruling, the judge likened Meta to a factory describing its advertising and content as products while characterizing the psychological harm and sexual exploitation affecting children as pollution that the company has failed to control.
Meta spokesperson said the company disagrees with the decision and plans to appeal. The spokesperson said Meta continues to invest heavily in improving safety across its platforms, removing harmful content and protecting teenagers online.
The New Mexico case marks the first time a US state has prevailed against Meta in litigation over child safety. Thousands of similar lawsuits remain pending across the United States.
