The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle – who have finally arrived in the UK on Wednesday, August 26, for an “extended” stay, have broken their silence in first joint statement.
Just a day after Meta agreed to pay $17.1 billion in Child Endangerment Settlement, Harry and Meghan's official website released a message from the couple - who have been an active advocate for children online safety.
Reacting to the settlement that came without an official apology, Harry and Meghan on their website, Sussex.com wrote, "The historic trial against Meta over claims that its products endanger children has resulted in a settlement in which they will pay up to $17.1 billion."
They went on to share, "The settlement requires Meta to pay financial penalties for violating federal child privacy and states’ consumer protection laws."
"By choosing to settle, the company paid to avoid yet another trial outcome that would force it into accountability. Because of the data-extraction business model Meta has used on our children and all users for years, it has more than the means to pay this settlement. Reports estimate Meta will make the equivalent of the $17 billion payout back in profit in the next 30 days," added the statement.
Harry further noted, "Alongside the settlement, Meta announced it will be making significant product changes for teens, including restricting platform use between 12 am and 6 am, stopping notifications during school hours, an optional chronological feed (as opposed to one based on algorithmically recommended interest-based content), and banning features that negatively impact mental health like beauty filters."
