Facebook found at fault in New Mexico case over user data collection

Meta Platforms, Inc. faces a major verdict

Meta Platforms, Inc., Facebook’s parent company, faces a major legal ruling in New Mexico. A Santa Fe jury found Facebook violated the state’s Unfair Practices Act through statements about user data, misinformation, and platform practices.

The verdict focuses on what Facebook told New Mexico consumers about privacy, safety, and content policies. Judge Francis Mathew will decide the financial penalty later, meaning Friday’s jury decision does not establish Facebook’s final payment amount.

Meta Platforms, Inc. faces millions of violations

New Mexico officials say the jury found Facebook responsible for about 43.9 million violations of the state’s Unfair Practices Act. The findings involved statements about how Facebook collected, protected, shared and used consumers’ personal information.

The violation count does not mean Meta has already been ordered to pay billions of dollars. Judge Francis Mathew will determine the civil penalty in a later phase of the case.

Meta Platforms, Inc. defends its record

Meta Platforms, Inc. said it disagrees with the verdict and plans to continue defending itself. The company said its platforms support free expression, protect user information, and give people control over their data.

New Mexico officials presented a different view during the case, arguing Facebook’s statements did not match its practices. The jury ultimately sided with the state on most challenged statements, while rejecting several allegations that prosecutors brought against Facebook.

The possible penalty could reach billions

New Mexico law allows penalties of up to $5,000 for each willful violation of its Unfair Practices Act. Applying that maximum to 43,899,725 violations produces a potential figure near $219.5 billion.

That amount is only a calculation, not Facebook’s final bill. New Mexico attorneys are asking for the maximum penalty, but Judge Francis Mathew must decide the actual amount after considering the jury’s findings and applicable state law.

Little-known fact: In 2019, the Federal Trade Commission announced Facebook would pay a record $5 billion privacy penalty.

Users’ control over data took center stage

A major part of the case involved Facebook’s statements about users’ ability to control their personal information. Jurors found the company made false or misleading statements involving data collection and consumer control.

Privacy settings affect millions of people using social media every day. The New Mexico case examined whether Facebook’s public descriptions accurately represented those controls, making the company’s promises about personal information an important part of the jury’s decision.

Facebook’s misinformation claims faced scrutiny

Jurors considered statements Facebook made about its efforts to address misinformation. New Mexico argued that some company statements gave consumers an inaccurate understanding of how the platform handled misleading content.

The jury did not accept every allegation. It found the state failed to prove certain claims involving fact-checking and other specific misinformation statements, showing that individual allegations received different outcomes during deliberations rather than receiving one blanket decision.

Hate speech became another key issue

Facebook’s handling of hate speech was another major issue during the trial. Jurors found violations involving statements about the company’s efforts against hate speech and the consistent application of its Community Standards.

The jury did not accept every content-moderation allegation presented by the state. Its verdict reached different conclusions on individual Facebook statements, reinforcing that the findings were based on specific representations rather than one blanket judgment about every moderation practice.

Cambridge Analytica remained part of the case

The trial also examined Facebook’s response to the Cambridge Analytica scandal. New Mexico challenged statements about the company’s investigation and its handling of concerns surrounding users’ personal information after the controversy became public.

The scandal gained worldwide attention after reports showed Cambridge Analytica obtained Facebook user data connected to political campaigns. New Mexico’s lawsuit examined Facebook’s statements through the state’s consumer protection law, focusing on what consumers were told about privacy and company practices.

Little-known fact: Reuters reported Meta agreed in 2024 to pay A$50 million to Australia’s privacy regulator after allegations that data from 311,127 Australian users was exposed.

The jury did not accept every claim

The jury verdict form showed New Mexico prevailing on 31 of 34 counts. State attorney Randi McGinn later explained that some counts were combined, meaning the state prevailed on 26 of 29 challenged statements.

Those totals describe different ways of counting the verdict. Separately, the jury’s findings produced about 43.9 million individual violations based on the audiences affected by the statements, rather than simply the number of statements presented at trial.

The judge controls the next step

The jury decided liability, but Judge Francis Mathew will determine the financial consequences. New Mexico officials are seeking the maximum available penalty for the violations established through the verdict.

The court may also consider other requested remedies designed to address the practices challenged by the state. Until Judge Mathew issues the next ruling, the exact financial outcome remains unknown, despite the enormous maximum figure discussed publicly after the verdict.

Meta has faced other New Mexico cases

The latest verdict follows another major New Mexico case involving Meta. In March, a Santa Fe jury imposed $375 million in civil penalties after finding 75,000 violations of the state’s Unfair Practices Act involving risks to young users.

In August, Judge Bryan Biedscheid ordered Meta to pay an additional $567 million toward an abatement fund addressing harms involving New Mexico youth and imposed other platform-related requirements. Meta has challenged the earlier rulings.

The case could affect tech companies

The New Mexico lawsuit could draw attention from other technology companies because it examines how consumer protection laws apply to public statements made by major digital platforms. The verdict centers on privacy, data practices and content policies.

For everyday users, the case raises questions about whether companies’ public descriptions accurately reflect how their platforms operate. The upcoming penalty decision will provide another important development in New Mexico’s continuing legal battles with Meta.

Want another look at Meta’s growing footprint? See why Utah homeowners are pushing back as property taxes rise.

The final amount remains unknown

The biggest unanswered question is how much Meta will ultimately have to pay. New Mexico is asking Judge Mathew to apply the maximum $5,000 penalty to every violation established through the jury’s findings.

The resulting calculation reaches roughly $219.5 billion, but that is not a final judgment. Meta says it disagrees with the verdict and will continue defending itself, while the court now moves toward deciding the actual penalty and any additional remedies.

Meta’s legal troubles aren’t the only story making waves. See what’s happening with property taxes around its Utah data center.

What do you think about the New Mexico jury’s decision involving Meta? Share your thoughts in the comments.

This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.

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