New Mexico jury finds Facebook liable for deceiving users on privacy.
A New Mexico jury found Facebook liable Friday for deceiving users about privacy protections. The verdict stems from a third-party quiz that harvested data from roughly 87 million profiles and sold it to Cambridge Analytica.
- 87 million profiles were harvested and sold to Cambridge Analytica for targeted ads.
- Over 2 million violations found; state seeks the $5,000 maximum penalty per violation.
- $942 million in judgments against Meta this year in a separate minors' safety trial.
- $18 billion multistate settlement in August released Meta from Cambridge Analytica liability in 48 states.
Why it matters: New Mexico pursued the case alone after 48 states settled. Florida also declined the settlement, calling it insufficiently tough on Meta.
- Jurors found Facebook's data failures affected all New Mexico residents — more than 2 million people.
How 13 sources split on this story
Where they split: The core dispute is whether Facebook's evidence of improved safeguards and limited documented breaches outweighs the state's case that users were broadly deceived about privacy.
Center coverage, 9 sources: The center presents the verdict factually, detailing New Mexico's solo legal strategy and Meta's broader settlement history.
PBS NewsHour4hNew Mexico jury finds Facebook liable of deceiving users about privacy protections
Associated Press4hNew Mexico jury finds Facebook liable of deceiving users about privacy protectionsWYWKBN Youngstown4hNew Mexico jury finds Facebook liable of deceiving users about privacy protectionsCNCTV News3hNew Mexico jury finds Facebook liable for deceiving users about privacy protections
Engadget2hNew Mexico Jury Rules Meta Misled State Residents About Data PrivacyPenPennLive4hNew Mexico jury finds Facebook liable for deceiving users on privacy
Reuters5hMeta misled consumers in case over Cambridge Analytica scandal, New Mexico jury saysWPWPXI Pittsburgh2dFacebook accused of deceiving users in New Mexico as trial over privacy scandal wraps upLeft coverage, 2 sources: The left frames the verdict as accountability for a company that monetized user data and enabled political manipulation in 2016.
Right coverage, 2 sources: The right leads with Meta's corporate identity and Facebook's defense that the state's evidence was thin and outdated.
What’s next: A judge will determine the penalty per violation; no sentencing date was reported.
- The $942 million minors' safety judgments against Meta remain on hold pending appeal.
- How much will the judge ultimately impose per violation, and will Meta appeal?
- Will Florida also take its Cambridge Analytica claims to trial?