US judge compares Meta to 'public nuisance,' orders $567m payout over child harm

US judge has ordered Meta to pay $567m in a New Mexico child safety case, ruling that Instagram and Facebook exposed children to harmful content and sexual exploitation Meta has been ordered to pay another $567 million by a US judge over allegations that its social media platforms exposed children to harmful content and failed to adequately protect young users.The ruling by Judge Bryan Biedscheid adds to mounting legal and regulatory pressure on Meta over the way Instagram and Facebook are designed and how they protect children from harmful content, sexual exploitation and potentially addictive use.The judge described Meta as a “public nuisance”, comparing the harm caused to children by its platforms to pollution produced by a factory. The money will be placed in a fund aimed at addressing the damage and preventing further harm.Meta, which owns Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp and Threads, rejected the ruling and said it would appeal.“We disagree with the ruling and will appeal,” a Meta spokesperson said, adding that the company works to keep people safe and remains confident in its record of protecting teenagers online.The latest order follows a $375 million civil penalty previously ...