Meta hit with $25 billion penalty for misleading users on privacy

A New Mexico judge has ordered Meta to pay $25 billion for deceiving users about its data privacy practices, one of the largest penalties levied against a tech giant, The New York Times reports. The state sued the company in 2021 over the Cambridge Analytica scandal. A jury ruled against Meta last month, finding 43 million violations of New Mexico’s consumer protection laws.

“The harm in this matter is difficult to overstate, and goes to the heart of Facebook’s basic business proposition,” the judge wrote in a 20-page judgment. Attorney General Raúl Torrez said, “Today’s result makes clear that no corporation is too powerful to be held accountable.” The state will apply the money to a public education fund.

Meta said it would appeal. “We are confident we will prevail on appeal,” said C.J. Mahoney, Meta’s chief legal officer. New Mexico won $567 million in damages in August and a $375 million penalty in March over harm to young users.