A New Mexico court has ordered Meta to pay an additional $567 million as part of a landmark child safety case against the technology company. The ruling, issued Thursday by the Santa Fe district court, represents the second phase of the proceedings and brings Meta’s total financial obligations in the case to nearly $1 billion.
The court determined that Meta’s social media platforms are substantially responsible for contributing to a mental health crisis affecting teenagers throughout New Mexico, classifying the company’s conduct as a public nuisance. According to New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez, the decision represents a significant victory for families concerned about social media’s impact on young users and reinforces that major technology companies must be held accountable for practices that harm children.
The newly ordered funds will be directed toward an abatement fund designed to support prevention and awareness initiatives, diagnostic screening, and treatment programs for individuals affected by Meta’s platforms. This amount supplements the $375 million in civil penalties imposed during the first phase of the case. Meta has indicated its disagreement with the ruling and stated plans to appeal the decision.
Originally reported by Theverge →
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