New Mexico court fines Meta $567 million, orders youth safety measures

A New Mexico court has fined Meta $567 million and mandated youth safety measures on its platforms, bringing the company’s total penalties in the case to $942 million. The ruling follows an earlier $375 million fine.

Judge Bryan Biedscheid ruled that Meta created a public nuisance in New Mexico, siding with Democratic Attorney General Raul Torrez. The court ordered Meta to implement measures for five years, including monthly limits on teenagers’ use of Facebook and Instagram, restrictions on notifications, and tighter controls on adult-minor contact. Additional safeguards for AI chatbots and enhanced review of child sexual abuse reports were also mandated.

Of the $567 million fine, $420 million will fund treatment services for young people, while the remainder will support awareness, prevention, and screening services. The ruling applies only to New Mexico and stems from a lawsuit alleging Meta designed addictive products and failed to protect children from exploitation.

Meta has stated it disagrees with the ruling and plans to appeal.