Meta Fined $375m in Landmark Case Over Child Sex Trafficking on Facebook and Instagram

A Guardian investigation has shed light on the dark reality of child sex trafficking on Facebook and Instagram, prompting a landmark lawsuit against Meta. The tech giant has been fined $375m in a New Mexico court case, highlighting its failure to prevent criminal exploitation on its platforms.

The investigation, led by reporter Katie McQue, began with a tip-off about surging child sexual abuse trafficking in the US. It uncovered evidence of traffickers using Facebook Messenger and private Instagram accounts to target, groom, and exploit children. Meta was found to be struggling to prevent these crimes, despite warnings from experts and law enforcement.

The probe involved extensive research, including analysis of court documents and interviews with former Meta contract workers. These workers reported that their efforts to flag and escalate possible child trafficking often went unaddressed, and harmful content was rarely removed.

The investigation's findings were published in April 2023, revealing how Facebook and Instagram had become marketplaces for child sex trafficking. The case was cited in a US supreme court amicus brief, and New Mexico's office of the attorney general filed a lawsuit against Meta for failing to protect children.

The lawsuit went to trial, and Meta lost the court battle in March, being ordered to pay $375m in civil penalties. The company has said it will appeal the ruling, maintaining its stance on protecting teens online.

This case marks a significant milestone in the ongoing scrutiny of social media platforms' role in combating child exploitation. Meta faces further trials, including one with a coalition of 33 attorneys general alleging the company designed features that 'purposefully addict children and teens.'