US District Judge Bryan Biedscheid has ordered social media giant Meta to pay $567 million in damages.
This is in connection with an allegation that the company failed to provide adequate warnings to the public regarding child safety.
Announcing his ruling, the judge stated that Meta has become a “public nuisance” and that its air pollution and its effects have a negative impact on society. The judge, who gave further details, compared Meta to a factory, stating that its products are advertisements and content, and that the psychological harm and sexual abuse caused to children should be considered pollution emanating from that factory. Considering this situation, the judge has also ordered the establishment of a special fund to minimize future damage.
The ruling follows a $375 million fine imposed on Meta in the same case, bringing the total fine to $942 million.
Meta has said it will appeal the ruling.
The company says it continues to work to protect users on its platforms and has been open about the challenges of identifying and removing harmful content and bad actors.
It is also considered the first time a social media company has been formally designated a “public nuisance” by a court.