A jury in the US state of New Mexico has found Meta guilty of child safety violations and ordered it to pay $375 million in damages. According to the decision, the company failed to adequately protect minors on its Facebook and Instagram platforms and willfully violated the state's unfair business practices law.
The lawsuit was filed by Raúl Torrez in 2023. He said that a fake 13-year-old profile created during an undercover operation quickly exposed him to exploitative content and offers. The trial was held in Santa Fe, and the decision was made after several days of deliberations.
Although state lawyers demanded a larger fine - in the billions of dollars, the jury settled for $375 million. Meta disagreed with the decision and announced that it would appeal. Company representatives emphasized that they have taken serious steps to improve safety on the platforms.
In the next stage, the judge will determine whether the company has created a public concern and whether additional funding for additional programs is necessary. Experts see this case as an important example of the growing legal pressure on social networks.
