A New Mexico state court has ordered Meta to pay a $567 million fine for failing to warn the public about the dangers its platforms pose to children — and Prince Harry is calling it a breakthrough.

The First Judicial District Court in Santa Fe County issued its final judgment in the case in August 2026. The ruling stemmed from a jury trial on claims that Meta's conduct violated the New Mexico Unfair Practices Act, a state consumer-protection law. The court found that the company had not adequately warned users about the risks its platforms carry for young people. (New Mexico Courts)

Harry did not mince words. "What we've seen in the last 24 hours is what accountability looks like," he said in a statement. "Change cannot wait another day." He framed the harm to children from big tech platforms as a deliberate choice, not an inevitable side effect of the technology. (Town & Country)

Meta disagreed. A company spokesman said Meta plans to appeal the decision and pointed to its efforts to keep people safe on its platforms. (Town & Country)

For Harry and his wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, the ruling lands on terrain they have been working for years. The couple has been outspoken about the need for safer online spaces. In 2024, they launched the Parents Network through their Archewell Foundation, a support network for parents whose children have been harmed by social media. Meghan traveled to Geneva to deliver a keynote speech at the unveiling of the Lost Screen Memorial, a project commemorating children who died in connection with online harm. (Town & Country)

In March, Harry and Meghan had reacted to a separate ruling in a social media addiction trial, writing that children's safety should be prioritised above profit. (Town & Country)

The New Mexico case is a state court action, not a federal one — meaning it was brought under state consumer-protection law and decided in a Santa Fe County courtroom. Whether Meta's appeal succeeds will determine whether the $567 million penalty stands.