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Meta agrees up to $18bn settlement over claims its platforms harmed children
The settlement, if approved by a California judge, covers 48 states plus DC and three territories, and requires default daily time limits and night-time blocks.
BBC Business reports that Meta has agreed to a settlement with US states and territories to resolve claims that Facebook and Instagram harmed children.
Under the deal, the company would pay a maximum of $18bn if approved by a California judge, making it Meta's largest payment tied to child safety litigation to date. The agreement would cover 48 states, the District of Columbia, and three US territories.
The states also sought platform changes, including default daily time limits and night-time blocks, aimed at better protecting children online. California Attorney General Rob Bonta called it a major step to clean up an industry that has been hurting kids.
While most of the US is included, New Mexico is not part of the settlement. The BBC also notes that a judge in New Mexico previously ordered Meta to pay combined fines of almost $1bn after ruling the company to be a public nuisance.