Social Media Giant Ordered to Pay £285m Over Child ‘Predator’ Shame
By SCM REPORTER
MARK Zuckerberg’s Meta has been slapped with a staggering £285 million ($375m) fine after a jury found the tech titan turned a blind eye to perverts prowling its apps.
A court in New Mexico, USA, heard how Facebook and Instagram bosses “prioritised profits over kids’ safety” while hiding the grim truth about social media’s impact on youngsters’ mental health.
The landmark verdict followed a seven-week trial that laid bare the “unconscionable” ways the firm failed to protect its most vulnerable users.
New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez told the court that Meta’s platforms had become a “breeding ground” for child sexual exploitation. The case was bolstered by a sting operation where undercover agents posed as children.
They found that Meta’s own algorithms were actively helping predators find and contact minors.
”Meta executives knew their products harmed children, disregarded warnings from their own employees, and lied to the public,” Mr. Torrez said after the verdict.
The jury ruled that Meta violated the state’s Unfair Practices Act by concealing the dangers of teen suicide content and failing to enforce age limits for under-13s.
The tech giant—worth a cool $1.5 trillion—has vowed to fight the ruling. A Meta spokesperson said: “We respectfully disagree with the verdict and will appeal. We remain confident in our record of protecting teens online.”
The fine is just the tip of the iceberg, with Meta facing a wave of similar lawsuits across the globe.
Background: Why the Jury Hammered Meta
The lawsuit, filed in late 2023, stemmed from a deep-dive investigation into how Meta handles its youngest users. Key evidence included:
The “MetaPhile” Sting: Undercover accounts posing as children were quickly bombarded with sexual solicitations.
Profit Over People: Internal documents allegedly showed Meta bosses ignored safety warnings from their own staff to keep “engagement” high.
Mental Health Crisis: Experts testified that the platforms’ design contributed to a surge in teen anxiety and depression.
