A New Mexico judge has ordered Meta to pay $25 billion for misleading users about its data privacy practices, according to court documents. The ruling stems from a jury's finding that the company violated consumer protection laws over 43 million times. The case is linked to the Cambridge Analytica scandal, which exposed how user data was improperly shared with third-party political advertisers.
The fine was issued by Judge Francis Mathew in Santa Fe, marking one of the largest penalties in US legal history. The jury determined that Meta's statements about data privacy were deceptive, leading to widespread consumer harm. The company has announced it will appeal the decision, citing the severity of the penalty.
This case follows years of scrutiny over Meta's data handling practices. The Cambridge Analytica incident, which came to light in 2018, led to global outrage and regulatory investigations. The New Mexico case is part of a broader legal battle against the tech giant, with multiple lawsuits alleging deceptive practices and violations of consumer rights. The ruling underscores the growing pressure on tech companies to ensure transparency and ethical data use.
