Home / Crime and Justice / Jury Slams Meta: $375M Penalty for Endangering Children
Jury Slams Meta: $375M Penalty for Endangering Children
25 Mar
Summary
- Meta found liable for misleading consumers on platform safety.
- Company ordered to pay $375 million in penalties.
- Meta plans to appeal the jury's decision vigorously.
A New Mexico jury has found Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, liable for misleading consumers and endangering children on its platforms. As a result, Meta has been ordered to pay $375 million in penalties, the maximum allowable under New Mexico's consumer protection laws.
New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez stated that Meta executives were aware of the harm their products caused to children, ignored internal warnings, and publicly misrepresented their knowledge. The state's investigation, launched in 2023, presented evidence including internal Meta documents and testimony from various experts to support its claims.
Meta has indicated its intention to appeal the jury's decision, with a spokesperson asserting the company's confidence in its efforts to protect teenagers online. This verdict marks a significant legal setback for Meta, which is facing other trials concerning its product design and its impact on minors.
