Meta Fined Millions: Latest News | March 2026

Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, has been ordered to pay $375 million in damages for failing to protect children on its platforms. The verdict, delivered by a jury in Latest Mexico on Tuesday, found the tech giant violated the state’s consumer protection law.

New Mexico Attorney General accused Meta of deceiving users about the safety of its social media services and contributing to the sexual exploitation of children. The lawsuit alleged that Meta granted unrestricted access to potential predators, leading to instances of child abuse and human trafficking.

Meta intends to appeal the decision, stating its disagreement with the ruling and reaffirming its commitment to ensuring the safety of its networks. “We are not in agreement with the verdict,” a company statement read. The company has been working to enhance safety measures across its platforms.

The $375 million penalty is significantly less than the $2 billion sought by the state’s attorney general. Despite the lower amount, the ruling marks the first jury verdict of its kind against the social media conglomerate.

The case comes as Meta faces thousands of additional lawsuits concerning its impact on young users. A whistleblower’s 2021 testimony before Congress alleged that the company was aware of the potential harm its products could cause but chose not to grab adequate action.

A separate legal process is underway in Los Angeles, examining whether social media platforms drive youth dependency and contribute to tragic outcomes. This trial seeks to determine if Meta’s platforms have contributed to the deaths of young people.

Following the announcement of the verdict, Meta’s stock experienced a slight increase in after-hours trading, rising by 0.8 percent.