Meta told to pay another $567m in New Mexico child safety lawsuit - BBC News

The ruling is in addition to $375m in fines Meta was already ordered to pay in the case, for a total of $942m.

Image source, Wally Skalij / Getty ImagesImage caption, Meta boss Mark Zuckerberg has seen his company face an increasing number of lawsuits over child safety - pictured here after testifying at a Los Angeles court in a separate case in February

A US judge in New Mexico has ordered Meta to pay another $567m (£421m) for its failure to warn the public about dangers its platforms posed to children, marking the largest fine against the company over child safety.

Judge Bryan Biedscheid said the social media giant is a "public nuisance" akin to air pollution and that it must put the money in a fund aimed at reducing future harms.

Thursday's ruling is in addition to $375m in fines Meta was already ordered to pay in the case, for a total of $942m.

Judge Biedscheid compared Meta to a factory, with advertising and content as its product and "the psychological harm and sexual exploitation of children to be the pollution that must be abated".