Meta has been found liable for child sexual exploitation and has been ordered to pay $375 million in penalties. The company was found to have misled consumers regarding the safety of its platforms, as well as enabled the harm of children. New Mexico’s attorney general, Raúl Torrez, claims that “Meta executives knew their products harmed children, disregarded warnings from their own employees, and lied to the public about what they knew.” In this case “the jury joined families, educators, and child safety experts in saying enough is enough.” As the first jury trial to find Meta liable for what transpires on the platforms that they host (Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, to name a few) this is a significant outcome in the tech landscape and is likely a harbinger of what’s to play out in future court rooms. Unsurprisingly, Meta has committed to appealing the ruling.
Tech Sector Found Responsible for Youth Sexual Harm
