In brief
A New Mexico federal judge has ordered Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Threads, to pay $567 million for its failure to warn of child danger on its platforms, marking the biggest punishment the company has faced for child safety. The decision, announced Thursday, follows an earlier $375 million fine in the same case. Judge Bryan Biedscheid called Meta a public nuisance and said the money should go into a fund to reduce future harms. Meta has said it will appeal the ruling.
Meta Faces $567 Million Fine Over Child Safety Lapses
A federal judge in New Mexico ordered Meta to pay an additional $567 million on Thursday for its failure to warn the public about the dangers its platforms pose to children. This ruling marks the largest penalty the company has ever faced over child‑safety concerns.
Judge Bryan Biedscheid described Meta as a “public nuisance” comparable to air pollution and said the company must place the funds in a dedicated pool to curb future harms. The decision adds to an earlier $375 million fine imposed on Meta in the same case.
Meta, which owns and operates Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp and Threads, has been contacted by journalists for comment. According to Meta’s spokesperson, the company intends to appeal the ruling.
The judgment highlights growing scrutiny over social‑media giants’ role in safeguarding children and signals a harsher enforcement approach from U.S. courts.
