Facebook liable for 43 million consumer‑protection breaches – New Mexico verdict could trigger $200 billion in penalties

A New Mexico jury on Friday found Facebook liable for deceiving users about privacy safeguards, marking a fresh legal blow to the social‑media behemoth.

Facebook liable for 43 million consumer‑protection breaches

The 2‑week Santa Fe trial focused on allegations that the platform, owned by Meta, misrepresented its response to a data‑harvesting quiz that exposed roughly 87 million profiles to Cambridge Analytica, the firm that helped shape the 2016 Trump campaign.

Jurors concluded the deception affected more than 2 million New Mexico residents, finding over 43 million violations of state consumer‑protection law. State attorneys are demanding the maximum ↑ $5,000 per violation, a sum that could swell to ↓ $200 billion if the judge applies the full penalty.

“The verdict is a significant win for New Mexico consumers and holds one of the world’s largest technology companies accountable,” the state Department of Justice said.

Meta’s spokesperson Alex Burgos dismissed the verdict, calling the evidence “outdated” and insisting the company has revamped its policies since the 2021 filing.

During closing arguments, defense lawyers highlighted that prosecutors failed to prove false statements about the removal of harmful content, including misinformation linked to the pandemic.

Legal analysts caution that even a $200 billion judgment may barely dent Meta’s profit margins. “Given the company’s high margins, it’s unlikely this will materially affect its bottom line,” said Peter Ormerod, Villanova Law professor.

The judge will set the final penalty at a hearing slated for Oct. 1. Attorney General Raúl Torrez said any award will fund the state’s education system, and the state is also seeking an injunction to curb future data‑harvesting practices.

Meta recently settled a multistate child‑safety lawsuit for up to Reuters reported $18 billion, while New Mexico previously secured $942 million in a separate minor‑safety case.

Words by: Dr. Aris Thorne

Artificial Intelligence Researcher