New Mexico Jury Finds Meta Misled Users Over Facebook Data and Privacy Practices

The verdict came after a two-week trial in Santa Fe stemming from allegations linked to the Cambridge Analytica scandal, in which data from millions of Facebook users was obtained through a third-party app without their consent. Meta has rejected the allegations and said it disagrees with the verdict.

Jury Finds 26 Statements Misleading

Jurors reviewed 29 statements highlighted by New Mexico officials and found that 26 were misleading, covering claims about user data, hate speech and misinformation. The jury did not find Meta misleading users in statements concerning some of its efforts to remove harmful content and its fact-checking practices.

The state's case argued that Facebook's public statements gave users the impression that they had greater control over their personal information and that the platform had stronger protections against harmful content than it actually did.

Meta's lawyers disputed that interpretation, arguing that prosecutors had selected statements without enough context. The company also maintained that it does not sell users' personal information.

More Than 43 Million Violations

The jury determined that Meta had committed more than 43 million violations of New Mexico's Unfair Practices Act. The number was based on the estimated number of people affected by the statements that the jury found misleading.

The financial penalty has not yet been decided. Under New Mexico law, the judge can impose up to $5,000 per violation, meaning the potential maximum could run into hundreds of billions of dollars. However, that figure is only the statutory ceiling; the judge will determine the actual penalty after considering the jury's findings.

New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez said the state is evaluating the amount it will seek and plans to push for the maximum penalty.

Cambridge Analytica Scandal at the Center

The case goes back to the Cambridge Analytica controversy, which emerged in 2018 after reports that a personality-quiz application had obtained Facebook user information and passed it to the political consulting firm.

Reuters reported that data from as many as 87 million Facebook users was involved in the incident. New Mexico later filed its lawsuit in 2021, making it one of the few states to pursue the claims independently rather than resolve them through a wider settlement.

The state argued that the incident exposed weaknesses in Facebook's approach to third-party applications and user privacy.

Meta Rejects the Verdict

Meta said it disagrees with the jury's decision and will continue defending itself against what it described as efforts to distort its record.

The company said its platforms are forums for free expression and that it has a responsibility to protect users' information while giving them control over their data.

Meta's lawyers also told the jury that Facebook had strengthened its privacy systems and policies in the years since the lawsuit was filed and had investigated suspicious third-party applications following the Cambridge Analytica revelations.

Judge Will Decide the Next Steps

The verdict does not immediately determine how much Meta will pay. Judge Francis Mathew will decide the civil penalties and could also order the company to make changes to its data-management practices.

The state's requests could include corrections to earlier statements and an audit of how Meta manages user data.

The ruling is the second time in six months that a Santa Fe jury has found against Meta in a case brought by New Mexico. Earlier this year, another jury found Meta liable over allegations involving the safety of young users on Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp.

The latest case adds another major legal challenge for Meta and keeps privacy, data protection and platform accountability at the center of scrutiny surrounding the company's social-media operations.

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