Meta ordered to change youth protections in $567 million court ruling

A New Mexico state court has ordered Meta to pay $567 million and implement significant changes to its platforms for young users in the state. Judge Bryan Biedscheid ruled that Meta created a public nuisance, siding with Attorney General Raúl Torrez, who accused the company of designing addictive products and failing to protect children from exploitation. The court mandated youth-safety measures including monthly usage limits for teens on Facebook and Instagram, notification restrictions, stricter controls on adult-minor contact, AI chatbot safeguards, and enhanced review of child sexual abuse reports. Meta stated it would appeal the ruling, asserting, "We remain confident in our record of protecting teens online and will continue to defend ourselves against claims that misrepresent the facts." This ruling follows a March jury decision that found Meta violated consumer protection law, ordering $375 million in damages, and is part of a broader trend of similar lawsuits across the U.S.