Facebook found liable for deceptive conduct, TikTok to pay Alabama $100m
A New Mexico court has found Facebook liable for deceptive conduct, while TikTok has agreed to a $100 million settlement with the state of Alabama over user safety claims.
Two of the world's largest social media companies faced significant legal outcomes in the United States this week, in cases handled separately by different state authorities.
Facebook found liable in New Mexico
A court in New Mexico has ruled that Facebook is liable for engaging in deceptive conduct. The finding represents a determination by the court that the company acted improperly in connection with the case brought against it in the state.
TikTok settles with Alabama for $100 million
Separately, TikTok has reached a settlement with the state of Alabama, ending a lawsuit centered on user safety concerns. Under the agreement, TikTok will pay $100 million to resolve the case, avoiding further litigation over the platform's handling of user safety.
The two developments highlight the continued scrutiny that major social media platforms face from state-level authorities and courts in the US. Both Facebook and TikTok operate services used by millions of people, including younger users, and questions around platform safety and transparency have repeatedly become the subject of legal action across different states.
While the New Mexico case resulted in a court finding of liability against Facebook, the Alabama case concluded with TikTok choosing to settle rather than continue contesting the claims in court. Together, the two cases illustrate different paths through which state governments are pursuing accountability from major technology platforms over how they treat and protect their users.
