A court in the state of New Mexico on Thursday, August 6, ordered the company Meta to pay 567 million US dollars and change the operation of its platforms for young users in the state, finding the company responsible for harm to children’s mental health.
Judge Bryan Biedscheid of Santa Fe ruled that the company created a “public nuisance” in New Mexico, supporting the position of the state’s Attorney General Raúl Torrez, a member of the Democratic Party.
Safety measures and accusations
Torrez accused the company of designing its products to be addictive to young users and failing to protect children from sexual exploitation on its platforms.
Judge Biedscheid ordered the company to implement a series of safety measures for minors. These include monthly limits on the use of Facebook and Instagram for teenagers, restrictions on notifications, enhanced control of adult contacts with minors, additional safeguards for chatbots with artificial intelligence, and more thorough review of reports of sexual violence against children. These measures, as well as the payment of 567 million US dollars, are provided for in the court’s decision, which will remain in effect for five years.
Source: Channel NewsAsia
