Meta has been ordered to pay a maximum fine of $375 million for each violation of New Mexico’s consumer protection laws.
“Meta officials knew their products harmed children, ignored warnings from their employees, and lied to the public about what they knew,” New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez said in a statement. “The substantial damages the jury has awarded to Meta should send a clear message to big tech executives that no company is beyond the reach of the law.”
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Meta, which owns social media platforms Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, plans to appeal the jury’s decision.
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“We will continue to defend ourselves vigorously and are confident in our record of protecting teens online,” Meta spokesperson Andy Stone said in a statement. new York Times.
New Mexico’s Justice Department began investigating meta platforms in 2023 to protect children from bad actors who may seek to sexually abuse or harass minors, among other harms. The state’s evidence included the findings of that investigation, in addition to internal Meta documents and testimony from former Meta employees, child safety experts, law enforcement officials, and others.
The state argued that Meta’s design features helped pedophiles sexually exploit children on the Meta platform.
This is META’s first loss in several trials this year. In Los Angeles, Meta and YouTube are being sued for allegedly designing an addictive product for minors. Snapchat and TikTok were part of that lawsuit but settled out of court.
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