Manila Bay
A New Mexico judge ordered Meta to pay $567 million into an abatement fund. The ruling came in a public nuisance case. The company faces multiple suits over alleged harms from its apps.
The fund adds to the $375 million in civil penalties Meta paid earlier this year. The state found Meta violated New Mexico's unfair practices act. The second trial phase started in May.
Judge Bryan Biedscheid wrote the ruling on Thursday. He stated Meta's platforms contribute to the youth mental health crisis. The evidence in the case established this link.
Most of the fund money goes to treatment for harmed individuals. The total allocated for treatment is $420 million. The rest funds awareness, prevention, screening, and assessment programs.
Court Links Meta to Mental Health Crisis
The court weighed multiple factors in the nuisance determination. Public nuisance cases typically center on the physical world. The burden fell on plaintiffs to correlate harms to Meta's apps.
Biedscheid cited testimonies from healthcare professionals. One expert attributed the shortage of healthcare resources to social media impacts. The state lacks adequate mental-health programs for troubled youth.
"Expert testimony supports a causal link between social media and the youth mental health crisis in New Mexico," the legal filing stated. This link formed the basis of the ruling. The court accepted the evidence presented.
"For years, Meta knew its platforms were harming New Mexico's kids," said Attorney General Raúl Torrez. The company chose engagement and profit over safety. Today's judgment holds Meta accountable for the damage.
Big Tobacco Moment for Social Media
Experts compare this case to Big Tobacco's moment in the 1990s. Tobacco companies paid billions for misleading the public. Their power and influence later dwindled dramatically.
Meta disclosed in its Q2 financial filing that the AG seeks up to $62.85 billion in penalties. Torrez sued Meta in 2023 after an undercover operation. The operation created a fake profile of a 13-year-old girl.
The AG's office found the fake account was inundated with solicitations. Child abusers targeted the profile with images and messages. This evidence supported the state's case against Meta.
Torrez sought to force Meta to overhaul its apps in New Mexico. The state wanted effective age-verification technologies and algorithm changes. The goal was to fundamentally restructure Meta's business operations in the state.
Thursday's order requires Meta to improve age assurance models using AI. The company must attempt to develop a prediction model for under-13 users. Other remedies include easier reporting of underage usage.
Submit Comment