A federal judge in New Mexico has issued a ruling requiring Meta to pay $567 million in addition to a previously ordered $375 million penalty, bringing the total to $942 million in the case. The latest judgment comes as part of a lawsuit brought by New Mexico state attorneys in 2023, which alleged that Meta’s platforms endangered children by exposing them to sexually explicit material and contact with sexual predators.
Judge Bryan Biedscheid characterized Meta as a “public nuisance” comparable to industrial pollution, noting that the company’s recommendation algorithms directed young users toward harmful content and contacts. The judge drew parallels between Meta’s platforms and a factory that produces pollution, stating that the psychological harm and sexual exploitation of children constitute the harmful byproduct that must be addressed. This marks the first time a social media company has been classified as a public nuisance in a legal ruling.
The $567 million penalty will fund efforts to mitigate the harms caused by Meta’s platforms. Approximately $420 million has been designated for clinical and behavioral health programs to treat existing harms, while additional funds will support training and awareness programs for teachers and health professionals. The judge also ordered Meta to implement specific operational changes, including preventing accounts of users under 18 from being recommended to adults, banning push notifications during nighttime and school hours for minors, and implementing a 90-hour monthly usage limit across Instagram and Facebook.
Meta stated it disagrees with the ruling and intends to appeal, maintaining that it works to keep users safe on its platforms. The company noted the challenges of identifying and removing harmful actors and content. Despite the significant financial penalty, industry observers noted that the fine represents a relatively modest impact on Meta’s operations, given the company’s recent quarterly revenue of $61 billion. The case is among thousands of lawsuits Meta faces in the United States over child safety concerns, with additional major trials scheduled to begin in the coming weeks.
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