New Mexico jury ordered Meta to pay 375 million USD after finding it liable for harming children
發佈日期: 2026-03-25 20:09
TVB News
In the US, a New Mexico jury ordered Meta, the parent company of social media giant Facebook, to pay 375 million US dollars in penalties after it found the company liable for endangering children and having a negative impact on their mental health.
Meta noted it will appeal the ruling.
After a close-to-seven week trial in the US State of New Mexico, a jury in the city of Santa Fe ruled on Tuesday that Meta, the parent company of social media platforms Facebook and Instagram, liable for damaging the mental health and well-being of children.
The jury said Meta prioritised profit over safety and violated the state's Unfair Practices Act -- having misled the public about the safety of its platforms as well as taking advantage of the vulnerability of children.
The court ordered Meta to pay 375 million US dollars in penalties, which is around 2.9 billion Hong Kong dollars.
The case began with a secret investigation conducted by the New Mexico Attorney General's office, which involved investigators posing as 14-year-olds setting up Facebook and Instagram accounts.
The accounts subsequently received sexually explicit content as well as adult contacts.
This resulted in the attorney general's office filing a lawsuit against Meta in 2023, which alleged that the company provided underaged users with sexually explicit content and engaged in the exploitation of minors.
A spokesperson for Meta rejected the ruling, saying that the company will appeal.
The company emphasised it has always strived to ensure safety for users of its platforms, and will continue to defend its reputation.
The unprecedented verdict marked the first time a US state has won a trial against Meta for harming youngsters.
This as a separate jury in Los Angeles is currently deliberating a lawsuit filed by a young woman who alleged the company's social media platforms were intentionally designed to be addictive, which could lead to users developing mental disorders.
