Meta has been fined $375 million for failing to protect children on social media

Meta has been fined $375 million following a ruling by a court in New Mexico, which found the company guilty of breaching laws relating to the protection of children’s rights on its platforms, including Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp. The ruling followed a six-week trial in Santa Fe, where the jury concluded that Meta had misled users about the level of safety on its platforms and had failed to adequately protect minors from risks, including sexual exploitation.

The lawsuit against Meta was filed by the state’s Attorney General, Raul Torres, who emphasised that this was a “historic victory” for children and families who had suffered as a result of the company’s irresponsible policies. According to the attorney general, Meta prioritised profit over user protection for years, leading to serious violations and threats to the safety of teenagers.

The court ruled that the company had breached consumer protection law in 75,000 instances, resulting in a fine of $5,000 for each violation. This decision followed a covert investigation in 2023, during which investigators created accounts posing as teenagers and documented the receipt of harmful content and contact with adult users.

Meta’s response

Meta disagreed with the ruling and announced its intention to appeal. The company noted that it has sufficient measures in place to protect users and is actively combating harmful content.

This is the first time a jury has ruled against Meta in such a case. However, the company is already facing thousands of lawsuits in the US concerning the impact of social media on teenagers’ mental health.

Reminder: What your Wi-Fi looks like in real time