Meta told to pay $375m for misleading users over child safety

A New Mexico court has ordered Meta to pay $375 million for misleading users about child safety protections on its platforms, which include Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp. The ruling found Meta liable for misrepresenting the effectiveness of its safety features to parents and users who believed their children were better protected than they actually were. The penalty represents one of the largest settlements against a tech company over child safety practices and reflects growing legal pressure on social media platforms to be transparent about risks to minors. The case underscores heightened scrutiny of Meta's child protection policies at a time when legislators and regulators are increasingly demanding accountability from tech companies over online harms to young people. The company faces similar child safety challenges across multiple jurisdictions as courts and regulators worldwide examine whether tech platforms adequately disclose risks or implement promised safeguards.