New Mexico Jury Finds Meta Misled Users in Cambridge Analytica Case
A jury in Santa Fe, New Mexico, ruled on Friday that Meta Platforms misled state residents regarding its use of Facebook user data. The case stems from the Cambridge Analytica scandal, where the political consulting firm improperly obtained data from up to 87 million Facebook users via a third-party app, which was used in the 2016 Trump campaign.
The two-week trial concluded with the jury finding 26 out of 29 statements presented by the state to be misleading. The state had argued that Meta deceived residents about how their data was shared with external parties and about its enforcement of policies against hate speech and misinformation. The jury rejected claims related to content removal and fact-checking statements. Among the statements examined were remarks by CEO Mark Zuckerberg and company blog posts that allegedly led users to believe they had control over their personal information. Zuckerberg had stated in 2010 that Facebook would never sell user data, a claim Meta continues to deny.
The jury identified approximately 43.9 million violations, based on the number of individuals exposed to the misleading statements. New Mexico law allows for fines of up to $5,000 per violation, theoretically capping the state's potential award at $219 billion. However, such large sums are rarely awarded, and the final penalty will be determined by Judge Francis Mathew. New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez stated his office would seek the maximum penalty and requested Meta to correct past statements and undergo an audit of its user data practices.
Meta has stated it disagrees with the verdict and will continue to defend itself against what it calls attempts to distort its record. The company asserts its constitutional right to manage its platforms as it sees fit, prioritizing free expression and user data protection. Meta's lawyers argued during the trial that statements were taken out of context and acknowledged that its handling of privacy and misinformation had not always been perfect.
This is the second significant ruling against Meta in Santa Fe within six months. In March, a different jury found the company misled users about the safety of minors on its platforms, resulting in a $375 million fine. Additionally, Meta reached a major settlement with 47 states, Washington D.C., and U.S. territories for up to $16.7 billion concerning allegations that its platforms were designed to foster addiction in children. New Mexico did not join that settlement, leading to this separate trial. In Israel, Meta agreed to pay 8 million shekels in a class-action settlement related to the Cambridge Analytica scandal.
