US judge compares Meta to 'public nuisance,' orders $567m payout over child harm

US judge has ordered Meta to pay $567m in a New Mexico child safety case, ruling that Instagram and Facebook exposed children to harmful content and sexual exploitationMeta has been ordered to pay another $567 million by a US judge over allegations that its social media platforms exposed children to harmful content and failed to adequately protect young users.The ruling by Judge Bryan Biedscheid adds to mounting legal and regulatory pressure on Meta over the way Instagram and Facebook are designed and how they protect children from harmful content, sexual exploitation and potentially addictive use.The judge described Meta as a “public nuisance”, comparing the harm caused to children by its platforms to pollution produced by a factory. The money will be placed in a fund aimed at addressing