Judge Bryan Biedscheid

In a ruling against Meta, Judge Bryan Biedscheid fined the company $567 million after likening its social media platforms to sources of pollution regarding psychological harm to children. He ordered new safety measures for users under 18, including mandatory time limits and improved age verification tools in New Mexico. Although these orders could establish a path for other court actions, Meta intends to appeal the ruling.

A New Mexico judge ordered new child safeguards for Meta, fining the company $567 million and mandating measures such as a 90-hour monthly limit and AI chatbot restrictions. The ruling resulted from a lawsuit filed by the state of New Mexico regarding alleged psychological harm to children using the social media platforms. While establishing a potential path for other court fights, implementation challenges remain concerning age verification methods and federal privacy laws.

A New Mexico state judge ordered Meta to pay $567 million into a fund for youth mental health treatment and prevention, finding the tech giant contributed to psychological harm and sexual exploitation of children. This order brings Meta’s total New Mexico bill north of $940 million, adding to an earlier jury verdict that found 75,000 violations under a consumer protection law.