Meta fined $567 million in largest child safety penalty against a social media company
A New Mexico court ordered Meta to pay $567 million into a child-safety abatement fund, the largest such penalty ever imposed on a social media company. The ruling adds to $375 million in fines Meta was already ordered to pay in the same case, bringing its total liability to $942 million. The case centered on allegations that Meta's platforms failed to protect minors from predators and harmful content.
A court in New Mexico has ordered Meta to pay $567 million into a child-safety abatement fund, in what regulators describe as the largest penalty of its kind ever levied against a social media company. The ruling stems from a lawsuit accusing the company of failing to shield young users from predators, exploitation and harmful content across Facebook and Instagram.
The new fine builds on an earlier $375 million judgment against Meta in the same case, pushing the company's total financial exposure to $942 million. New Mexico's attorney general said the funds would go toward monitoring, prevention programs and support services for affected families, rather than being paid directly to the state.
Meta said it plans to appeal the decision, arguing it has invested heavily in parental controls and content-moderation tools in recent years. The case adds to a wave of legal and regulatory pressure on major platforms over child safety, with several other US states pursuing similar litigation against Meta and other tech companies.
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