US jury orders Meta to pay $375 million for misleading users, enabling child harm

A US jury has ruled that Meta must pay $375 million in civil penalties, concluding that the company misled users about the safety of its platforms and allowed harm, including child sexual exploitation, to occur. This case in the state of New Mexico is the first bench trial in which the US-based social media giant has been held liable for actions carried out on its platforms, The Guardian reported on Wednesday.

Historic verdict

"The jury's verdict is a historic victory for every child and family who has paid the price for Meta's choice to put profits over kids' safety," Raul Torrez, New Mexico's attorney general, said on Tuesday. "Meta executives knew their products harmed children, disregarded warnings from their own employees, and lied to the public about what they knew. Today, the jury joined families, educators, and child safety experts in saying enough is enough," he added.

Maximum penalty

The jury ordered Meta to pay the maximum legal penalty of $5,000 per violation, totaling $375 million in civil fines for breaching New Mexico's consumer protection laws. Meta, which owns Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, said it plans to appeal, adding that it will "continue to defend ourselves vigorously, and we remain confident in our record of protecting teens online."

Next phase

Torrez said that in the next phase, starting on May 4, his office will pursue further financial penalties and court-ordered changes to Meta's platforms to "offer stronger protections for children." The case coincides with a growing international push to protect vulnerable minors from the harms of social media, with experts saying the apps and websites are addictive and can reduce attention spans and lead to lower self-esteem.