Meta ordered to pay $25 billion fine in New Mexico Cambridge Analytica case
A New Mexico judge reduced a jury‑determined $219 billion penalty to $25 billion.
Key facts
- A jury in Santa Fe found Meta liable for over 43 million violations of the state’s unfair practices act.
- The state originally awarded $219.5 billion, but a judge capped the fine at $25 billion.
- The penalty is based on $5,000 per violation, the maximum allowed by the New Mexico Unfair Practices Act.
- The case stemmed from the Cambridge Analytica scandal involving 87 million users.
- Meta previously settled similar lawsuits for $17 billion with other state attorneys general.
The New Mexico court ordered Meta to pay $25 billion in penalties. According to CNBC, the judge reduced the original $219.5 billion award. The reduction followed a jury’s finding of more than 43 million violations. The judge cited the size of the violations and the state’s audience.
The case originated from the Cambridge Analytica scandal, in which the consulting firm accessed data from up to 87 million Facebook users. According to FAZ, the state sued Meta in 2021 after the data breach was revealed. The jury concluded that Meta misled citizens about data protection and harmful content.
The penalty is calculated at $5,000 per violation, the maximum under the state law. The judge added that interest will accrue at 15% per year until the fine is paid. The court’s decision follows a March ruling that ordered Meta to pay $375 million for a separate unfair practices case.
Meta had requested a cap of $3.45 billion, arguing that a higher fine could drive businesses out of the state. The judge rejected that argument and imposed the $25 billion fine. The decision is the second ruling against Meta in New Mexico within six months.
Context
The ruling is part of a series of state lawsuits over data privacy violations linked to the Cambridge Analytica scandal. The state’s attorney general, Raúl Torrez, led the trial that produced the penalty. The case highlights ongoing scrutiny of how social media companies handle user data.
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