Meta Ordered to Pay $375 Million over Misleading Child Safety Claims
Social media giant Meta Platforms has been ordered to pay hundreds of millions of dollars in damages after a landmark court ruling found it misled users about the safety of its platforms for children, according to reporting by BBC News and other outlets.
A jury in the US state of New Mexico concluded that Meta violated consumer protection laws by failing to adequately safeguard minors on platforms such as Facebook and Instagram, while simultaneously giving parents and users a false sense of security. The ruling, which carries a penalty reported at around $375 million, follows a lengthy trial examining the company’s practices and internal policies.
The case was brought by New Mexico’s attorney general, who argued that Meta knowingly allowed harmful content and predatory behaviour to persist, despite being aware of the risks. Evidence presented in court included undercover investigations showing how easily accounts posing as minors could be targeted by adults and exposed to inappropriate material. Prosecutors said the company’s design choices and algorithms amplified these risks rather than mitigating them.
Crucially, the jury found that Meta misrepresented the effectiveness of its safety features, particularly those aimed at protecting younger users. This included claims about parental controls and content moderation tools that, in practice, failed to prevent exploitation and harmful interactions.
Meta has strongly disputed the verdict and announced plans to appeal. In a statement reported by the BBC, the company said it had invested heavily in safety measures, including new tools for teens and enhanced parental supervision features. It also argued that policing harmful behaviour online remains a complex challenge across the tech industry.
Legal experts say the ruling could have far-reaching implications, potentially opening the door for further lawsuits against major technology firms over child safety and transparency. The case is among the first to successfully hold a social media company financially accountable for harm linked to its platform design rather than individual user content.
Advocacy groups and parents have welcomed the decision, calling it a significant step toward greater accountability in the tech sector. Further legal proceedings are expected to determine whether additional penalties or mandated changes to Meta’s platforms will follow.
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