Social media giant Meta—which is the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp—is in deep legal trouble. In a landmark verdict, a jury in New Mexico, USA has imposed a huge fine of $375 million (approximately ₹3,100 crore) on Meta. Specifically, the court determined that Meta—which was founded by entrepreneur Mark Zuckerberg—hid risks to children’s safety and mental health, and violated regulations in the pursuit of profits. After a long hearing, the court found the company guilty and gave its verdict imposing a fine.
What is the full scope of this matter?
This trial lasted for about seven weeks. New Mexico government lawyers argued in court that Meta was fully aware that its platforms posed a risk to children, yet the company never publicly disclosed these risks. Prosecutors argued that Meta prioritized profits over security. The jury concluded that Meta concealed information on its platform about the risks of sexual exploitation of children and the potential adverse effects these risks could have on their mental health. Apart from this, the company was also found guilty of providing misleading and false information. The judgment also said that Meta adopted unfair business practices that took advantage of the children’s young age and inexperience. The jury determined that the company took unfair advantage of the children’s vulnerabilities.
multiple violations of rules
According to the Court, this was not an isolated mistake. The jury found that Meta had violated consumer protection laws thousands of times. Penalties were imposed separately for each violation, resulting in a total fine of $375 million (₹3,100 crore). The decision is being seen as an important message to tech companies: that the cost of ignoring children’s safety can be very high. Experts believe that after this decision, even stricter rules can be imposed on social media companies. At this time, Meta has not provided any detailed response to this decision; However, it is believed that the company may challenge this decision.