Law
New Mexico Court Orders Meta to Pay Additional $567 Million in Child Safety Case
A New Mexico judge has ordered Meta to pay $567 million for failing to protect children on its platforms, bringing total penalties in the case to over $940 million.
According to a report by Khaosod Online citing the BBC, a court in New Mexico, USA, has ordered Meta—the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp—to pay an additional $567 million (approximately 18.7 billion baht). This ruling follows the company's failure to warn the public about dangers to children on its platforms, specifically regarding the accessibility of sexual content and the facilitation of child sexual exploitation.
Judge Bryan Biedscheid characterized Meta as a "public nuisance," comparing the company’s impact to air pollution and stating that the psychological harm and exploitation of children are pollutants that must be eliminated. The funds are intended for a trust aimed at mitigating future harm. This penalty is in addition to the $375 million (nearly 12.4 billion baht) fine imposed in the same case this past March, bringing the total court-ordered payments to over $940 million.
For residents and travelers, this case highlights ongoing global scrutiny regarding digital safety and the regulation of social media platforms. While Meta has previously indicated its intention to appeal the court's decisions, the legal proceedings remain active. It remains to be confirmed how these rulings will influence future platform policies or if they will lead to broader regulatory changes affecting social media accessibility and safety standards internationally.