Meta fined $25 billion by New Mexico judge

According to BBC, a judge in New Mexico ordered Meta to pay $25bn. The judge said the fine was the largest ever against the company. The decision followed a two‑week trial that found Meta had lied about user data.

According to Variety, the jury found nearly 44 million violations of the state’s Unfair Practices Act. The judge originally ordered $219.4bn, but reduced it to $25bn. The judge said the violations spanned 2010‑2021.

According to The Hill, state Attorney General Raúl Torrez described the penalty as one of the largest financial penalties against a corporation in U.S. history. Torrez said the decision shows that large companies can be held accountable.

According to BBC, the case stemmed from the Cambridge Analytica scandal. The state sued Meta in 2021 over alleged violations of its consumer protection statute. The case focused on how Meta presented its privacy and content moderation policies.

According to Variety, the fine will be paid to the state’s education fund. The decision came hours before Meta’s third‑quarter earnings report. Meta’s stock rose about 2% after the decision.