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Court Orders Meta to Pay $375m Over Child Safety Misleading Claims

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Meta Platforms Inc.

Court Orders Meta to Pay $375m Over Child Safety Misleading Claims

A court in New Mexico has ordered Meta Platforms Inc. to pay $375 million after a jury found the company misled users about the safety of its platforms for children, in a landmark ruling tied to allegations of widespread exposure of minors to harmful and explicit content.

The verdict, delivered after a seven-week trial, found Meta liable under New Mexico’s Unfair Practices Act for allegedly misrepresenting the safety of its platforms, including Facebook and Instagram, which the company owns alongside WhatsApp.

Jurors concluded that Meta’s platforms exposed children to sexually explicit material and facilitated contact with sexual predators, while the company publicly maintained that its services were safe for younger users. The total penalty was calculated based on thousands of violations, each carrying a statutory fine under state law.

New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez described the verdict as “historic,” noting that it represents the first successful state-level lawsuit against Meta over child safety concerns. He argued that Meta executives were aware of the risks but failed to act decisively, prioritising engagement metrics over user safety.

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Meta Platforms Inc

Meta Platforms Inc

During the trial, prosecutors presented internal company documents and testimony from former employees, including whistleblower Arturo Béjar, who testified that internal research showed underage users were exposed to sexualized content on Instagram. He also alleged that Meta’s systems did not adequately prevent predatory behaviour targeting minors.

State evidence reportedly indicated that a significant percentage of users had encountered unwanted sexual content at various points, reinforcing claims that Meta’s content recommendation systems contributed to the problem.

The lawsuit, filed in 2023, accused Meta of using algorithm-driven recommendation systems that could steer young users toward harmful material, including explicit content and interactions linked to exploitation. Prosecutors argued that the company failed to implement sufficient safeguards, such as robust age verification and effective moderation tools.

Meta, led by chairman and CEO Mark Zuckerberg, denied wrongdoing and said it would appeal the ruling. A company spokesperson maintained that Meta has invested heavily in safety measures, including parental controls, content moderation systems, and features designed specifically for teens.

Meta pointed to updates such as “Teen Accounts” on Instagram, which allow younger users and their parents more control over privacy and content exposure. The company has also introduced tools aimed at detecting sensitive interactions and alerting parents when potentially harmful activity is identified.

The case has drawn wider attention amid a growing wave of litigation in the United States involving social media companies and their impact on children and teenagers. Meta is currently facing additional lawsuits, including cases alleging that its platforms are designed to be addictive and harmful to young users.

New Mexico’s lawsuit argued that Meta “steered” minors toward inappropriate content through its algorithms, while ignoring internal warnings and failing to adequately disclose risks to the public. The state said the company’s conduct violated consumer protection laws by creating a misleading impression of platform safety.

Legal experts say the ruling could set a precedent for similar cases across the country, as regulators and states increasingly scrutinize how major technology companies design and manage platforms used by minors.

Court Orders Meta to Pay $375m Over Child Safety Misleading Claims

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Miami Teen Receives 17-Year Jail Term For Boyfriend’s Fatal Stabbing

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Miami Teen Receives 17-Year Jail Term For Boyfriend’s Fatal Stabbing

, the South Florida teenager convicted over the fatal stabbing of her boyfriend, has been sentenced to 17 years in prison after an emotional court hearing that left both families devastated.

The sentence was handed down on Tuesday by Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Christine Hernandez, who ruled that Malik would serve 17 years in a Florida state prison followed by five years of reporting probation for the 2024 killing of 17-year-old Yahkeim “Keimo” Lollar.

The tragic incident occurred on December 20, 2024, at an apartment complex in Miami’s Liberty City neighbourhood. Prosecutors told the court that Malik stabbed Lollar in the chest during an argument inside a parking garage near Northwest Sixth Court and 61st Street.

Although Malik was 17 years old at the time of the incident, she was prosecuted as an adult. Earlier this year, she pleaded guilty to manslaughter and carrying a concealed weapon without reaching a plea agreement with prosecutors, leaving the final sentencing decision to the judge.

During the hearing, Judge Hernandez imposed additional probation conditions on Malik, including mandatory yearly reflection letters about the crime and its consequences.

“You will have to write a letter December 20th of every year that you’re on probation acknowledging what occurred and how it has affected your life,” the judge said in court.

The judge also ordered a mental health evaluation for the teenager as part of her probation requirements.

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Court proceedings became emotional as members of Lollar’s family delivered victim impact statements. His mother, Nathalie Jean, expressed relief after the ruling and said she believed justice had finally been served.

“I’m glad today my son can finally rest in peace knowing that justice was served,” she said after the sentencing.

Jean added that she hoped Malik would reflect deeply on the damage caused by the stabbing.

“I hope that when she goes to prison and gets processed, she thinks about the lives that she destroyed and how much she affected our families,” she stated.

During the hearing, prosecutors reportedly played surveillance footage showing Lollar’s final moments after the stabbing. Testimony from investigators revealed that the knife wound penetrated the teenager’s chest and struck his heart.

Before the sentence was announced, Malik addressed the court directly and apologised for her actions.

“Every day I sit and think about the damage I caused,” she told the judge.

“The family wants me in prison, but I’m in my own prison for the rest of my life. This was my best friend, my love and someone I could vent to about anything and everything,” Malik added tearfully.

Defense attorneys had urged the court to sentence Malik as a youthful offender and place her in a correctional boot camp programme instead of prison, arguing that she was still a juvenile when the incident occurred.

However, prosecutors requested a tougher punishment of 20 years imprisonment followed by 10 years probation, insisting the seriousness of the crime required a substantial sentence.

Judge Hernandez ultimately rejected the request for youthful offender treatment, saying the evidence showed the stabbing was not accidental.

“Although I do believe that you are remorseful, I do not believe that this was an isolated incident of aggression,” the judge said.

Following the hearing, emotions remained high outside the courthouse. While Lollar’s relatives embraced one another and welcomed the ruling, some members of Malik’s family argued that the sentence was too harsh for someone who was still a teenager at the time of the crime.

The case has continued to attract widespread attention across the United States due to the age of those involved and the emotional courtroom scenes surrounding the sentencing.

Miami Teen Receives 17-Year Jail Term For Boyfriend’s Fatal Stabbing

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US Warns Parents Owing $2,500 Child Support Risk Passport Revocation

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US Warns Parents Owing $2,500 Child Support Risk Passport Revocation

The United States government has warned that citizens who owe more than $2,500 in unpaid child support risk having their passports revoked or denied under existing federal regulations governing child support enforcement.

The US Department of State said the measure applies to individuals who fall behind on court-ordered child support payments, stressing that such persons will not be eligible to obtain or renew a US passport until their debts are cleared.

In its advisory, the department stated that affected individuals are typically identified through federal and state child support enforcement systems and notified through email or postal mail using contact details provided in their passport records.

The agency warned: “If you owe more than $2,500, federal regulations do not allow us to issue you a U.S. passport and we may revoke your valid U.S. passport.”

It also urged affected persons to contact their state child support enforcement agency immediately to make payment arrangements and avoid passport restrictions or revocation.

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The State Department explained that even after repayment, a revoked passport cannot be used for travel, meaning holders must apply for a new passport before regaining full travel privileges.

It further noted that in urgent travel situations, coordination between state agencies and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to update records and clear names from enforcement lists may take about 2–3 weeks.

The department also warned that US citizens abroad whose passports are revoked may only be issued limited-validity emergency travel documents to return home, until their child support debts are fully settled and verified.

According to the agency, applicants must first clear all outstanding arrears through their state child support enforcement agency before any passport application can be processed.

The policy is based on the 1996 federal child support enforcement law, which allows US authorities to deny, revoke, or restrict passports for individuals owing significant child support debt.

While the law has existed for decades, the State Department said improved coordination and data sharing between state agencies and federal systems have made enforcement more consistent and effective in recent years.

US Warns Parents Owing $2,500 Child Support Risk Passport Revocation

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Outrage as Israeli Soldier Poses With Cigarette in Virgin Mary Statue’s Mouth

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Outrage as Israeli Soldier Poses With Cigarette in Virgin Mary Statue’s Mouth

Outrage as Israeli Soldier Poses With Cigarette in Virgin Mary Statue’s Mouth

The Israeli military has opened an investigation after a soldier was photographed smoking and placing another cigarette in the mouth of a statue of the Virgin Mary in southern Lebanon, triggering outrage among Christian leaders and residents in the region.

The controversial image, which spread rapidly across social media platforms, was reportedly taken in the Christian-majority village of Debel in southern Lebanon. The incident has intensified tensions amid ongoing clashes between Israel and Hezbollah despite a fragile ceasefire agreement.

In a statement, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) described the soldier’s conduct as unacceptable and said the military viewed the matter with “utmost severity.”

According to the military, the soldier’s actions were inconsistent with the ethical standards expected of Israeli troops. The IDF added that disciplinary action would be taken after the completion of an internal investigation.

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Israeli military spokesperson Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani stated that the photograph had been taken several weeks earlier and stressed that the military respects religious freedom and holy sites.

“The IDF respects freedom of religion and worship, as well as holy sites and religious symbols of all religions and communities,” he said.

The controversy comes only weeks after another incident in the same village where an Israeli soldier was filmed striking a statue of Jesus Christ on the cross with a sledgehammer. Following widespread criticism, two soldiers involved in that case reportedly received 30-day prison sentences and were removed from combat duties.

Reacting to the latest incident, head of Debel’s congregation, Father Fadi Felfeli, condemned the act, describing it as offensive and unethical.

“Honestly, this issue really provoked us, especially after the apology regarding the cross,” he told the BBC.

Father Felfeli accused some members of the Israeli army of displaying intolerance toward Christians and religious symbols.

“It also shows that there are individuals within the army that lack ethics and values and are bigoted. This reflects a great deal of fanaticism,” he added.

Although the Virgin Mary statue was not physically damaged, the cleric said the act reflected extremism and disrespect toward a peaceful Christian community that has tried to remain neutral during the conflict.

The Custodia Terrae Sanctae, which represents the Roman Catholic Church in the Holy Land, also condemned the incident. The organisation described the soldier’s actions as “disrespectful and outrageous behaviour” and called on Israeli authorities to ensure accountability.

The church body urged the Israeli government and the military to send a strong message that attacks or acts of disrespect toward religious symbols would not be tolerated.

The incident has further raised concerns about growing hostility toward Christian sites and religious symbols amid the ongoing Israel-Lebanon conflict. Christian leaders have repeatedly warned against attacks on churches, clergy and sacred monuments in the region.

Meanwhile, tensions between Israel and Hezbollah continue despite a US-mediated ceasefire agreement that took effect in April. Israeli troops remain stationed in parts of southern Lebanon, while both sides continue to accuse each other of violating the truce.

Lebanese health authorities claim Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon have killed more than 120 people in the past week, including civilians. Hezbollah has also continued rocket, drone and mortar attacks targeting Israeli troops and communities in northern Israel.

On Wednesday night, Israel carried out an air strike on Beirut’s southern suburbs for the first time since the ceasefire began. The Israeli military claimed the strike killed Ahmed Ali Balout, identified as a commander in Hezbollah’s Radwan Force, although Hezbollah had not officially confirmed the claim at the time of reporting.

Lebanese officials say at least 2,715 people have been killed since the conflict escalated in March, while Israeli authorities report that 17 soldiers and one civilian have died in southern Lebanon. Two civilians have also reportedly been killed in northern Israel.

Outrage as Israeli Soldier Poses With Cigarette in Virgin Mary Statue’s Mouth

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