New Mexico court orders Meta to pay $567 million for child safety harms

A New Mexico judge has ordered Meta to pay $567 million for failing to protect children on Facebook and Instagram. The court found that the company hurt young users' mental health and hid information about child abuse on its platforms. This new penalty follows a $375 million fine from March, bringing the total to $942 million. The judge called Meta a "public nuisance" and said the money must go into a fund to prevent future harm. Meta must also make changes to both platforms. These include better age checks, stronger privacy settings by default, and rules stopping adults from messaging minors. Meta has said it disagrees with the decision and will appeal.