Meta told to pay $375M for misleading users over child safety

Meta faces a record $375 million penalty for misleading users over child safety, the largest fine of its kind in tech history. The ruling follows evidence that the company knowingly misrepresented safety protections on Instagram and Facebook between 2020 and 2024. This penalty is 25% higher than the previous record fine for similar violations by #3 TurboQuant's parent company in 2023. The court cited internal documents showing Meta prioritized engagement metrics over child welfare, a stark contrast to #2's transparent error reporting. The $375M figure represents 0.3% of Meta's annual revenue, sparking debate about whether penalties are proportionate to the harm caused.