Meta ordered to pay New Mexico $25 billion for deceiving Facebook users about data privacy after Cambridge Analytica
A New Mexico state judge ordered Meta to pay $25 billion, the largest fine ever imposed on the company, after a jury found it liable for deceiving users about how Facebook handled their personal data. Judge Francis J. Mathew ruled the deception was intentional and that executives consistently misled users. In September, jurors found over 43 million violations of New Mexico consumer protection laws. The case stems from the Cambridge Analytica scandal, in which a third-party personality quiz harvested data from roughly 87 million profiles. Meta plans to appeal, and the state may not see the money for years.
Detalhes técnicos
- The trial centered on Facebook's misleading public statements about user control over data and its handling of the third-party quiz data breach that fed Cambridge Analytica's targeted political ads in the 2016 election cycle.
- Jurors rejected claims that Facebook made false statements about removing harmful content, including COVID-19 misinformation.
- New Mexico sought $35-40 billion; Meta argued for at most $3.4 billion and said a larger award would be unconstitutional.
- The award far exceeds the $5 billion FTC fine against Facebook in 2019. Interest accrues during the appeal, though Meta may succeed in reducing the number of violations.
- Under the New Mexico Constitution, the proceeds go to education spending.
- Meta separately reached an $18 billion settlement in August with nearly all other states and territories (excluding New Mexico and Florida) over teen social media addiction and child-safety measures.
Remediação
No technical remediation applies. Meta says it will appeal and has said it changed its policies after the suit was filed in 2021.
Linha do tempo
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Meta ordered to pay New Mexico $25 billion for deceiving Facebook users about data privacy after Cambridge Analytica
ler a análise desta fonte ocultar
A New Mexico state judge ordered Meta to pay $25 billion, the largest fine ever imposed on the company, after a jury found it liable for deceiving users about how Facebook handled their personal data. Judge Francis J. Mathew ruled the deception was intentional and that executives consistently misled users. In September, jurors found over 43 million violations of New Mexico consumer protection laws. The case stems from the Cambridge Analytica scandal, in which a third-party personality quiz harvested data from roughly 87 million profiles. Meta plans to appeal, and the state may not see the money for years.
Technical Details
- The trial centered on Facebook's misleading public statements about user control over data and its handling of the third-party quiz data breach that fed Cambridge Analytica's targeted political ads in the 2016 election cycle.
- Jurors rejected claims that Facebook made false statements about removing harmful content, including COVID-19 misinformation.
- New Mexico sought $35-40 billion; Meta argued for at most $3.4 billion and said a larger award would be unconstitutional.
- The award far exceeds the $5 billion FTC fine against Facebook in 2019. Interest accrues during the appeal, though Meta may succeed in reducing the number of violations.
- Under the New Mexico Constitution, the proceeds go to education spending.
- Meta separately reached an $18 billion settlement in August with nearly all other states and territories (excluding New Mexico and Florida) over teen social media addiction and child-safety measures.
Remediation
No technical remediation applies. Meta says it will appeal and has said it changed its policies after the suit was filed in 2021.