tech
Meta ordered to pay $567 million into abatement fund as remedy to child harms case in New Mexico
A judge in New Mexico ordered Meta to pay $567 million into an abatement fund after a jury ruled the company violated the state’s unfair practices act.
TL;DR
- Meta ordered to pay $567 million into a New Mexico abatement fund.
- The fund is intended to address harms caused by Meta's platforms to youth mental health.
- This follows a previous ruling where Meta violated New Mexico's unfair practices act.
- The majority of the fund ($420 million) is allocated for treatment of individuals harmed by the platform.
- The case is characterized by experts as social media's 'Big Tobacco' moment.
- Meta plans to appeal the ruling, stating disagreement with the judgment.
- The ruling requires Meta to improve age assurance tools and develop a prediction model for under-13 users.
- Meta is not required to alter algorithms or stop end-to-end encryption on Facebook due to potential conflicts with legal protections.