GoKawiilNew Mexico jury finds Meta violated state consumer protection law over privacy
A New Mexico jury ruled that Meta violated the state's Unfair Practices Act, finding it misled residents about privacy protections and how it handled misinformation. The case stemmed from a 2021 lawsuit tied to the Cambridge Analytica scandal, in which Facebook user data was harvested and used for political ad targeting during the 2016 election. A judge has not yet determined the penalty Meta will face.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
New Mexico and Florida opted out of a prior multistate settlement over Cambridge Analytica, which allowed this trial to proceed separately and produce a fresh adverse verdict against Meta years after the original scandal. The ruling suggests state-level legal exposure over the Cambridge Analytica episode remains unresolved even after Meta's broader settlements, and the eventual penalty could set a precedent for how other holdout states pursue similar claims.
- Jury found Meta violated New Mexico's Unfair Practices Act on privacy and misinformation issues.
- Case originated from a 2021 lawsuit tied to the 2016 Cambridge Analytica data scandal.
- Fine amount is still undetermined; New Mexico had opted out of an earlier multistate settlement.
Source: engadget.com — Ian Carlos Campbell, 2026-09-25
Published there as: “New Mexico jury rules Meta misled state residents about data privacy”
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