Meta Ordered to Pay $567M in New Mexico Child Exploitation Lawsuit

A New Mexico court has ordered Meta to pay $567 million for failing to warn the public about the dangers its social media platforms pose to children. This judgment follows a previous $375 million order from March. Judge Bryan Biedscheid ruled that Meta's platforms are a significant contributing cause to the mental health crisis among New Mexico teens, describing the platforms as a "public nuisance" and comparing the psychological harm and sexual exploitation of children to "pollution" that must be abated.

The $567 million settlement is intended to fund awareness, prevention, screening, and referral programs, with $420 million specifically allocated to treatment. Additionally, the court ordered Meta to implement private-by-default settings for users under 18, limit their friend lists to other minors, and ensure their accounts do not appear in searches or recommendations.

New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez hailed the verdict as a victory for families, while Meta stated it disagrees with the ruling and intends to appeal. This legal action follows similar scrutiny in California, where Meta and Alphabet were found liable in a lawsuit regarding addictive platform designs.

(Source：Cnet)