Prince Harry Praises $567M Fine for Meta Over Child Safety Failures.
Prince Harry has expressed approval over a $567 million fine imposed on Meta for failing to warn the public about the dangers its platforms pose to children. In a statement shared with Town Country, he emphasized that this decision represents accountability for the tech giant's actions.
"For years we've argued that big tech’s harm to children was a choice, not some inevitable side effect," Prince Harry stated. "This is not an accident; it is not a glitch. What we’ve seen in the last 24 hours is what accountability looks like. This is what happens when the law finally catches up to decisions made in boardrooms, product meetings, and algorithm reviews—decisions that put social media engagement ahead of safety."
According to a Meta spokesman, the company plans to appeal the decision. "We work hard to keep people safe on our platforms and have been transparent about the challenges of identifying and removing bad actors and harmful content," he said.
The Duke of Sussex and his wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, have long advocated for safer online spaces. In a statement earlier this year, they highlighted the need for safer platforms by design, meaningful accountability, and a commitment to prioritizing children's well-being over engagement and profit. "Until then, every day without meaningful change is another day that children remain exposed to preventable harm," they noted.
In March 2023, they also reacted to a ruling on a social media addiction trial, stating, "Let this be the change—where our children’s safety is finally prioritised above profit."
In 2024, Prince Harry and Meghan launched the Parents Network through their Archewell Foundation, a support network for parents whose children have been impacted by online or social media harm. In April of that year, Meghan traveled to Geneva to deliver a keynote speech at the unveiling of the Lost Screen Memorial.
The fine represents a significant step towards holding tech companies accountable for their actions regarding child safety, according to Prince Harry's statement.
