A New Mexico court ordered Meta to pay $25 billion in penalties. A jury found Meta liable for 43 million violations of the state’s unfair practices act. The judge reduced the initial $219.5 billion award to $25 billion. Each violation carried a maximum $5,000 penalty. The judge cited willful, repeated misstatements by Meta about data safeguards. Interest on the penalty accrues at 15% annually until paid. Meta plans to appeal the ruling. The case stems from the Cambridge Analytica scandal. New Mexico was not part of the earlier $17 billion multi-state settlement. The judge said Meta failed to conduct a promised investigation after the scandal.
What changed
New Mexico was not part of the prior $17 billion multi-state settlement.
What it unlocks
New Mexico can enforce its own data privacy penalties against Meta.
- $25 billion penalty
- $219.5 billion initial award
- 43 million violations
- $5,000 per violation
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