A New Mexico jury on Friday delivered a decisive verdict against Meta Platforms, holding its Facebook service accountable for deceptive statements about user privacy. The verdict marks a significant win for New Mexico consumers and underscores the state’s resolve to enforce consumer‑protection laws.
Jury findings and potential penalties
The jurors found that Facebook made more than 43 million violations of New Mexico’s consumer‑protection statutes by falsely assuring users that their personal data was safe. Attorneys for the state are seeking the maximum statutory penalty of $5,000 per violation, which could translate into a multi‑billion‑dollar judgment once the judge determines the final amount.
Background of the case
The two‑week trial in Santa Fe centered on allegations that Facebook deceived users about a massive data breach involving a third‑party personality quiz. The quiz harvested information from roughly 87 million profiles and sold it to the political consulting firm Cambridge Analytica, which then used the data to target political ads. Cambridge Analytica’s clients included the 2016 campaign for President Trump.
Jurors concluded that Facebook’s statements about protecting user data misled the entire New Mexico population of more than two million residents. The state also argued that Facebook misrepresented its investigations into third‑party app developers that harvested data after the Cambridge Analytica scandal.
Meta’s response
Meta’s spokesperson Alex Burgos said the company disagrees with the verdict and will continue to defend itself against what he called “efforts to distort our record.” In an email, Burgos emphasized Meta’s commitment to free expression, stating, “Meta’s platforms are forums for free expression. We have a First Amendment right to manage those platforms in a way we believe best serves the interests of our community.”
During closing arguments, Meta’s lawyers argued that the state’s evidence was outdated and that, despite a five‑year window to gather material, New Mexico identified only one other data breach instance.
Content‑moderation claims
The trial also examined Facebook’s policies for removing harmful content. The state alleged that the company favored certain accounts and allowed violent or inaccurate material to proliferate. Meta countered that it has updated its policies since the lawsuit was filed in 2021 and now removes 99 % of content that violates its standards.
Jurors found the state did not prove false claims about removing harmful content, including misinformation about the COVID‑19 pandemic, marking one of the few wins for the defense.
Future implications
The judge will set a later hearing to determine the exact penalties. The state also seeks an injunction to prevent similar deceptive practices in the future. In August, Meta agreed to pay up to $18 billion to settle a multistate lawsuit over child‑safety issues, which included a release from future liability related to the Cambridge Analytica breach. New Mexico was the only state to pursue a separate case after that settlement.
Earlier this year, New Mexico secured judgments totaling $942 million from Meta in a two‑phase trial concerning the platform’s safety protections for minors. That court order required Meta to implement new safeguards, such as age‑verification technology and time‑limit features for younger users.
Original reporting: Dallas TX News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
