Meta ordered to pay $25 billion in Cambridge Analytica case

Meta ordered to pay $25 billion in Cambridge Analytica case

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A New Mexico judge has ordered Meta, the parent company of Facebook, to pay $25 billion for misleading users over the Cambridge Analytica breach, which took place during Donald Trump's first presidential campaign. The case links back to the 2016 Cambridge Analytica scandal, when a third-party quiz harvested the data of some 87 million Facebook profiles and sold it to the UK-based political consulting firm. The firm used the data for targeted ads, including campaign ads for Donald Trump's first presidential run.

The case was brought by the state of New Mexico, which refused to settle with Facebook over a myriad of legal issues. Prosecutors claimed that the social network deceived the state's entire population of some 2.1 million people by its public statements on privacy. The US state also argued that Facebook allowed the spread of misinformation and violent content.

A jury found Facebook liable for over 43 million violations of New Mexico consumer protection laws in September. Meta pledged to 'continue to defend ourselves against efforts to distort our record.' Following the jury's decision, it was up to the court to determine how much Meta would pay the state. While the $25 billion fine is lower than the $35 billion to $40 billion demanded by the New Mexico prosecutors, it far exceeds the cap of $3.45 billion suggested by Meta's lawyers.

The fine is legally due to be paid into New Mexico's education fund. New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez said the outcome should be 'an unambiguous message' to Silicon Valley. While noting that the money will likely be tied up due to appeals, Torrez also noted that the fine is a significant consequence for Meta's actions.