New Mexico Judge Orders $25B Fine for Meta Over Privacy Violations. A New Mexico judge has ordered Meta to pay $25 billion in fines for misleading users over the Cambridge Analytica breach, which took place during Donald Trump's first presidential campaign. The ruling comes after a jury found Meta responsible for over 43 million violations of New Mexico's consumer protection laws.
Judge Francis Mathew ruled that Meta misled users about privacy and content moderation, stating that Facebook promised users they controlled their data, which was false. The case links back to the 2016 Cambridge Analytica scandal, where data from 87 million Facebook profiles was sold to a political consulting firm for targeted ads, including those for Trump's 2016 campaign. New Mexico rejected a previous $18 billion settlement with Meta over the Cambridge Analytica breach.
The $25 billion fine will be paid into New Mexico's education fund, with New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez calling it an 'unambiguous message' to Silicon Valley. The ruling marks the second legal defeat for Meta in New Mexico in six months, following a $375 million fine for misleading users about the safety of young people on Facebook. The case highlights ongoing legal challenges for Meta over privacy, content moderation, and effects on minors.