Prince Harry puts children’s safety into spotlight as he reacts to $567 million Meta judgement

Prince Harry has spoken out after the social media giant Meta was forced to pay $567 million in fines following complaints that the company was not properly protecting children on social media.

The Duke of Sussex, 41, said it was a watershed moment for technology companies being held accountable for harm caused to children, as reported by People Magazine.

Last week, a New Mexico court issued a $567 million fine to Meta, bringing the total penalty to $942 million following a previous fine made in March.

Mark Zuckerberg‘s company was accused of deliberately allowing its platforms to harm young users and enable child sexual exploitation. In addition to heavy fines, the company was also ordered to make further safety measures to protect young people.

Prince Harry’s statement following the court ruling

The Prince said: “For years we’ve argued that big tech’s harm to children was a choice, not some inevitable side effect. This is not an accident. It is not a glitch.”

Harry claimed the ruling was proof of “accountability”, and was a true sign of what happens “when the law catches up” with official decisions that “put social media engagement ahead of safety”.

The judge in New Mexico branded Meta a “public nuisance”, adding that it should be treated as a pollution “that must be abated”.

According to reports, at least $420 million worth of the fines would be used to fund health programmes supporting young people affected by the harms of the platforms. New safety requirements have also been issued, requiring the company to mandate monthly limits for teenagers on Instagram and Facebook, as well as notification restrictions.

Meta’s new reforms

The reforms will also prevent adults from contacting social media users under 18 that they don’t know. The company will be required to deliver progress updates twice annually. It’s not the first time the company has faced legal action following safety complaints. 

Later this month, Meta will be tried for allegedly knowingly designing addictive features on Instagram and Facebook, which, it is claimed, have contributed to a mental health crisis in young people. In March, Meta and YouTube were found liable for negligence and were ordered to pay $3 million in compensation.

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Prince Harry also commented on the decision at the time, calling it a “reckoning” for tech companies in a statement to People Magazine. He said families had been forced to pay “the price” for platforms with a “total disregard for the children they reach”.

He and his wife, Meghan Markle, 44, said they stood with parents and young people who “refused to be silenced”. The couple have long advocated for greater online safety measures, including through their company, Archwell Philanthropies‘ work.