A jury in New Mexico ordered Meta to pay $375 million in damages after finding the company guilty of violating state law by misleading users about the safety of the social platform and failing to properly protect children from sexual predators.
The verdict, which was delivered on March 24, was the first time a major technology company has been successfully taken to trial by a US state over allegations that the company is linked to child harm.
New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez said the outcome was a “historic victory,” noting that families had suffered as the result of Meta prioritising profit over the safety of children.
The lawsuit was filed in 2023 in which the parent company of Meta and its social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp were accused of becoming a “breeding ground” for child predators.
Prosecutors showed internal communications that alleged that senior leadership – including CEO Mark Zuckerberg – knew there were serious safety risks but chose not to take adequate action and instead deceived users about the safeguards in place.
Jurors found that Meta had willfully disobeyed the New Mexico Unfair Practices Act, imposing a $5,000 fine for every violation.
Although the total award comes to far less than the $2.1 billion which was originally requested by the state, the ruling is a massive financial and reputational blow to the company.
Meta has declared it would appeal the decision. A company spokesperson said the company still puts a great deal of money into pinpointing and removing harmful actors on the web.
Meanwhile, the legal pressure on the big tech platforms is increasing. In a separate case in Los Angeles, courts have already found Meta and YouTube negligent in a social media addiction lawsuit.
Additionally, a federal trial of multiple platforms is anticipated later this year, which will only make things more intense for the industry.
Also read: UK media regulators urge Meta, TikTok, Snap and YouTube to block children
