New Mexico judge orders Meta to pay $567 million fine

(CBS, KYMA) - New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez is hailing what he calls an "historic" ruling against Meta in a lawsuit accusing the tech giant of failing to keep kids safe online.

A New Mexico judge added another $567 million to Meta's tab Thursday, on top of the $375 million awarded in civil penalties back in March.

That's when a jury found Meta's platforms enable predators to engage in child sexual exploitation, and that those online platforms are also intentionally designed to make young users addicted.

CBS News spoke with Attorney General Torrez when the lawsuit was brought in 2023, and he was asked if Facebook and Instagram are the best places for predators to do business, to which he said, "Absolutely...There are simply not enough safeguards in place...This is a place where predators have the upper hand."

The bulk of this latest payment will go towards treatment services for young people.

"This platform is a breeding ground for predators. It is a place that facilitates not only hands-on abuse, but the identification and market-driven practices of child pornography," Torrez said during a press conference.

While the ruling imposes some injunctive relief, Torrez is calling for comprehensive federal and state legislation which includes real age verification.

Meta said it will appeal and remains confident in its ability to protect young users on its platforms.