New Mexico Jury Finds Meta Liable for Widespread Data Privacy Deception
A New Mexico jury on Friday determined that Meta violated state consumer protection laws nearly 44 million times by making false claims about how it handles user data. The verdict centers on allegations that the company misled consumers about its data sharing practices, particularly regarding assurances that users controlled their information and that Facebook did not buy or sell private data to advertisers.
According to a press release from New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez’s office, the jury concluded that Facebook’s statements were not only misleading but ‘willfully deceptive.’ This included claims that the platform did not profit from misinformation or hate speech, that it actively removed harmful content, and that it had no incentive to retain hateful material. Jurors also rejected Facebook’s assertions that it applied its community standards uniformly without special treatment for politicians or newsworthy content.
Jury Rejects Meta’s Claims on Content Moderation and Third-Party App Oversight
The jury specifically found that Facebook falsely claimed it had ‘no special protections for particular groups and no exceptions to its policies for politicians or newsworthiness’ under its community standards policy. This determination was labeled as willful deception by the Attorney General’s office.
Additionally, jurors held that Meta deceived users regarding its oversight of third-party applications following the Cambridge Analytica scandal. Facebook had promised to investigate apps that accessed large volumes of user data, conduct forensic audits, cut ties with developers who misused data, and notify affected users. The jury found that the company failed to honor these commitments.
Financial Penalties Could Reach Billions Under State Law
Each violation of New Mexico’s Unfair Practices Act carries a maximum civil penalty of $5,000. With 44 million violations confirmed by the jury, the potential financial exposure for Meta could exceed $220 billion, though the final amount will be determined by a judge in subsequent proceedings.
This ruling adds to Meta’s growing legal and financial burden related to data privacy and consumer protection. The company has already paid tens of billions in settlements and fines across multiple jurisdictions for similar allegations.
Pattern of Legal Challenges Continues for Meta
The New Mexico verdict is part of a broader trend of legal setbacks for Meta. In March, a New Mexico court ordered the company to pay $942 million in civil penalties for violating children’s online safety protections under state law. Later in August, Meta settled a separate children’s privacy case with California for $17 billion, agreeing to implement significant reforms to improve safeguards for minors on its platforms.
Attorney General Torrez criticized Meta’s longstanding approach to regulation, stating, ‘For years, Facebook operated as if the rules that apply to everyone else didn’t apply to them.’ He described the verdict as historic, not only for New Mexico but for all states seeking to hold large technology companies accountable.
Beyond monetary penalties, New Mexico is seeking injunctive relief, asking the judge to compel Meta to make sweeping changes to its data privacy practices moving forward. As of the time of reporting, a Meta spokesperson had not responded to requests for comment on the verdict.
Source: The Record