US jury orders Meta to pay $375m for endangering children
Al Jazeera • • general
Key Points:
- A New Mexico jury has ordered Meta to pay $375 million for harming children's mental health and exposing them to sexual exploitation, marking the first successful US state lawsuit against the company over child safety issues.
- Jurors found that Meta prioritized profits over safety, violated New Mexico’s Unfair Practices Act, and engaged in misleading and unconscionable trade practices targeting vulnerable children.
- The verdict followed a six-week trial featuring testimony from 40 witnesses, including whistle-blowers, and extensive evidence such as internal documents and emails.
- Meta has stated it disagrees with the verdict and plans to appeal, emphasizing its efforts to keep users safe despite challenges in moderating harmful content.
- New Mexico’s Attorney General Raúl Torrez called the ruling a historic victory and announced a second trial phase in May to seek additional penalties and platform changes; meanwhile, a separate California case against Meta and YouTube could set a precedent for similar lawsuits nationwide.
