Lead

A New Mexico judge on Thursday ordered Meta to pay more than $567 million over the state's claims that the social media giant created a "public nuisance" and harmed children. The ruling marks a significant escalation in a legal battle brought by New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez, who sued Meta — the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp — in 2023, alleging the company failed to protect children from online dangers.

Coverage Comparison

The ruling was reported by France 24 and the South China Morning Post, both of which noted that Meta was previously ordered to pay $375 million in damages to New Mexico in March, when a jury found the company liable for endangering children by making them vulnerable to predators on its platforms, among other harms. Both outlets also highlighted that Meta's algorithms had directed adults toward content posted by teenage users, while the company concealed internal findings about the risks to young people.

France 24's coverage emphasized the harm to children and the "public nuisance" framing, describing the decision as a victory for parents and children, and quoted both Meta and Attorney General Torrez. The South China Morning Post reported the same core facts in a neutral tone, relying on indirect quotes from Meta.

Key Claims

  • The New Mexico judge ordered Meta to pay over $567 million over the state's claims that the company created a "public nuisance" and harmed children (as reported by France 24 and the South China Morning Post).
  • Meta was previously ordered to pay $375 million in damages to New Mexico in March, when a jury found the company liable for endangering children by making them vulnerable to predators on its platforms (as reported by both France 24 and the South China Morning Post).
  • During closing arguments, prosecutor Linda Singer told jurors that Meta's algorithms had directed adults toward content posted by teenage users while the company concealed internal findings about the risks to young people (as reported by France 24 and the South China Morning Post).
  • Around three-quarters of the $567 million fund is to be used for mental health treatment, with the payment spread over five years; the remaining amount is allocated for programs including awareness, prevention, screening, and assessment (as reported by France 24).
  • Meta will also be required to limit push notifications and usage for users under 18 to a monthly cap of 90 hours, and to hide "like counts" on its platforms (as reported by France 24).
  • More than 30 US states are suing Meta over similar allegations, with a potential trial set to begin in August in Oakland, California (as reported by France 24).

Perspectives

Meta

In a statement to AFP, Meta said: "We disagree with the ruling and will appeal. We work hard to keep people safe on our platforms and have been transparent about the challenges of identifying and removing bad actors and harmful content."

New Mexico Attorney General's Office

Attorney General Raul Torrez said: "This case has always been about protecting children, standing up for families, and making sure that one of the world's largest technology companies cannot profit from practices that endanger young people without consequence. Today's decision is a victory for every parent who has worried about what social media is doing to their child and every child who deserves to grow up safer online."