Meta has been ordered to pay a fine of $942 million (equivalent to R$ 4.8 billion) following a judicial decision issued by the State of New Mexico in the United States. The court held the company responsible for damages caused to children and adolescents through Facebook and Instagram. In addition to the compensation, the company will be required to implement new measures to limit minors' access to its platforms within the state.
This ruling, released on Thursday (the 6th), represents a considerable increase in the cost of the company's first major conviction related to child safety on social media. Judge Bryan Biedscheid ordered Meta to establish a fund of $567 million (R$ 2.9 billion) dedicated to compensating for damages generated by the company's social networks. This amount is added to the $375 million (R$ 1.9 billion) in civil penalties previously set by a jury.
The magistrate justified the creation of this new fund due to the vast extent of the observed impacts and the complexity of the actions needed to mitigate such damages. Despite being a substantial amount, it remained below the $779.5 million (R$ 4 billion) sought by the State's lawyers.
Beyond financial compensation, Meta must apply specific changes aimed at underage users residing in New Mexico. Among the obligations imposed by the Court, the company issued a statement declaring its disagreement with the ruling and its intention to appeal. A company spokesperson stated: 'We remain confident in our history of protecting online teenagers and will continue to defend ourselves against allegations that distort the facts.'
The lawsuit was initiated by the state's attorney general, Raúl Torrez, who accused Meta of allowing young people to be exposed to sexually explicit material and becoming easy targets for predators on the platforms. In March, a jury had concluded that the company intentionally violated state consumer protection laws.
This case is considered a legal milestone as it is the first trial to directly examine whether social media companies can be held liable for the risks and content present in their services. The incident in New Mexico is part of hundreds of lawsuits filed against Meta by attorneys general from various American states, school districts, and users. The allegations point out that the company prioritized the growth of its platforms over the safety of children and adolescents.
A subsequent trial, conducted by attorneys general from four U.S. states, is scheduled for the following week in California. According to documents provided by Meta itself to the Court, the plaintiffs in this new action are seeking damages exceeding $1 trillion (R$ 5.1 trillion).
The company faced another setback this year when a jury in Los Angeles concluded that both Meta and YouTube were responsible for the mental health issues reported by a young person who attributed the development of these disorders to excessive platform use. The previous week, Meta announced that it spent $2.4 billion (R$ 12.3 billion) solely on litigation during the second quarter of this year.
Low-income families received a social cashback return totaling 179.2 billion UZS. Citizens included in the 'Unified Register of Social Protection' have the opportunity to receive a portion of their spent funds when purchasing certain goods.
This mechanism allows citizens to receive a social cashback of 12% VAT. During the first half of 2026, 651.3 thousand consumers utilized this opportunity.
A new financial support mechanism is being introduced for citizens planning to purchase an electric vehicle. This mechanism provides for partial coverage of the interest rate on car loans by the state.
Starting from August 1, 2026, the state will compensate part of the interest rate on car loans that meet the established conditions. The compensation applies to the portion of the interest rate exceeding 16 percent during the first two years of the loan, but not more than 8 percent set by the bank.
