Meta Platforms has secured a series of nuclear power agreements that could total more than 6 gigawatts of electricity capacity, making it the biggest nuclear power buyer among hyperscaler technology companies. The deals demonstrate how major technology firms continue their aggressive pursuit of power supplies amid the artificial intelligence infrastructure boom.

Major Nuclear Power Agreements

Meta announced on Friday that it will purchase electricity from three existing Vistra plants and support the development of small modular reactors by Oklo and TerraPower over the next decade. These agreements follow a separate deal in June with Constellation Energy.

The market responded positively to the announcements, with Vistra shares rising 10% and Oklo shares climbing approximately 20% before Friday trading opened.

Infrastructure Investment Strategy

The nuclear deals support Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg's commitment to spend hundreds of billions of dollars on AI infrastructure through the end of the decade. The company is developing two major data center projects that will benefit from these power agreements.

"If we are unable to generate more electricity, that could hurt the ability of AI to grow faster," said Urvi Parekh, Meta's head of global energy. "The big picture is about ensuring that we have more solutions as AI continues to grow instead of having constraints on what options and what technologies can be added to the grid."

Industry Power Demand Surge

US power usage is expected to climb at least 30% by 2030, with most new demand coming from data centers, according to Grid Strategies energy consulting firm. The 6-gigawatt capacity from Meta's deals would be sufficient to power approximately 5 million homes.

While Meta has also secured natural gas power for some projects, including three gas plants for the Hyperion facility, the company remains committed to low-carbon energy solutions. Nuclear power provides round-the-clock clean energy that aligns with the company's environmental goals while meeting the substantial power requirements of AI infrastructure.

Technology Development Timeline

The agreements include both immediate and long-term power solutions. The Vistra plants will continue supplying the PJM Interconnection grid, which serves over 67 million people from the Midwest to the mid-Atlantic region. Meanwhile, the Oklo agreement includes prepayment to help procure fuel for reactors planned to begin service as early as 2030.

Zuckerberg has stated that he sees greater risk in under-spending on AI infrastructure than overspending, pursuing an "aggressively front-load building capacity" strategy in preparation for achieving "superintelligence" - AI that outperforms humans at many tasks.

The attorney general of the US Virgin Islands has filed a comprehensive lawsuit against Meta Platforms, marking a significant legal challenge to the social media giant's advertising practices and child safety measures. The lawsuit, filed in the Superior Court of the Virgin Islands on St. Croix, accuses Meta of deliberately profiting from fraudulent advertisements while failing to protect users, particularly children, on its Facebook and Instagram platforms.

Revenue Projections from Fraudulent Content

The lawsuit draws heavily on internal Meta documents that reveal concerning financial projections related to fraudulent advertising. According to these internal company materials, Meta projected significant revenue from questionable sources:

The documents also revealed Meta's internal policy requiring 95% algorithmic certainty before blocking advertisers suspected of fraudulent activities. This high threshold effectively allows numerous suspected scammers to continue advertising on the platform, according to the allegations.

Legal Action and Regulatory Response

Attorney General Gordon C. Rhea emphasized the groundbreaking nature of this legal action, stating it "marks the first effort by an attorney general to address reports of rampant fraud and scams on Meta's platforms." The lawsuit seeks penalties for violations of the Virgin Islands' consumer protection laws.

The legal action has garnered attention from federal lawmakers, with two US senators calling on both the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Federal Trade Commission to investigate the matter and pursue appropriate enforcement actions.

Child Safety Allegations

Beyond fraudulent advertising, the lawsuit addresses Meta's handling of child safety on its platforms. The Virgin Islands alleges that Meta misleads the public about its protective measures while failing to implement stated policies effectively. Specific concerns include:

• Inadequate protection of minors from harmful content
• Misleading statements to parents, regulators, and Congress about platform safety
• Inconsistent implementation of written safety policies

The lawsuit references internal Meta documents from August that initially permitted the company's artificial intelligence chatbots to "engage a child in conversations that are romantic or sensual." Meta subsequently removed these guidelines following media reports.

Meta's Response and Defense

Meta spokesman Andy Stone responded to the lawsuit by referring to previous company statements defending its consumer protection efforts. Stone characterized allegations of failed consumer protection as "baseless" and highlighted the company's anti-fraud initiatives.

Key points in Meta's defense include:

• Aggressive fighting of fraud and scams on platforms
• 50% reduction in scam reports from users over the past 18 months
• Strong disagreement with child safety allegations
• Commitment to supporting young users on platforms

Stone emphasized that fraudulent content is unwanted by users, legitimate advertisers, and Meta itself, positioning the company as actively working against such material rather than profiting from it.

Implications and Industry Impact

This lawsuit represents a significant challenge to Meta's business practices and could influence how social media platforms handle advertising oversight and child safety measures. The case highlights ongoing tensions between platform revenue generation and user protection, particularly regarding vulnerable populations like children. The outcome may establish important precedents for how attorney generals can address social media platform responsibilities at the state and territorial level.