In brief
In a landmark decision, a New Mexico jury has found Meta (owner of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp) liable for misleading users regarding the safety of its platforms for young users, resulting in a hefty penalty of $375 million. This ruling is significant as it marks the first successful lawsuit against Meta concerning child safety issues. The trial revealed evidence of internal documents showing the company's awareness of child predators on its platforms, with the Attorney General calling the verdict historic.
A court in New Mexico has ordered Meta to pay $375 million (£279 million) for misleading users over the safety of its platforms for children. A jury found that Meta, which owns Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, was liable for the way in which its platforms endangered children and exposed them to sexually explicit material and contact with sexual predators.New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez described the verdict as 'historic,' marking the first time a state has successfully sued Meta over child safety issues. A Meta spokesperson stated that the company disagrees with the verdict and intends to appeal, emphasizing their efforts to maintain safety on their platforms and their transparency regarding the challenges of combating harmful content.The jury concluded that Meta violated New Mexico's Unfair Practices Act by misrepresenting the safety of its social media services for young users. During a comprehensive seven-week trial, jurors were presented with internal Meta documents and testimony from former employees highlighting the company’s knowledge of predators using its platforms.Arturo Béjar, a former engineering leader at Meta, testified that experiments showed underage users were served sexualized content on Instagram, stating his daughter was propositioned for sex by someone on the platform. Internal research presented in court indicated that 16% of all Instagram users reported seeing unwanted nudity or sexual content in just one week.In response to the lawsuit, Meta pointed to measures implemented over the years to improve user safety, including the introduction of Teen Accounts and new features aimed at protecting younger users from harmful content. The significant $375 million penalty was determined based on thousands of violations, with a maximum penalty of $5,000 per infraction.Meta is also facing additional litigation in Los Angeles, where a young woman claims her childhood addiction to platforms like Instagram resulted from their intentional design for engagement, with numerous similar lawsuits making their way through U.S. courts. Torrez emphasized that the jury’s decision sends a clear message: 'enough is enough,' as it cooperated with families and child safety advocates.
