Meta Found Liable in New Mexico Facebook Data Privacy Case

A New Mexico jury has found Meta Platforms liable for misleading consumers about Facebook user privacy and data-sharing practices in a case tied to the Cambridge Analytica scandal. The verdict followed a two-week trial in Santa Fe over alleged violations of the state’s consumer protection law.

The lawsuit, filed by New Mexico authorities in 2021, centered partly on revelations that Cambridge Analytica obtained personal information associated with as many as 87 million Facebook accounts through a third-party application. The political consulting firm later worked with Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign.

New Mexico argued that Facebook made deceptive statements about how users' personal information could be accessed and shared by outside parties. The state also challenged Meta’s public representations concerning hate speech, misinformation and whether Facebook applied its content policies consistently across users.

During the trial, state attorneys pointed to statements from Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and company blog posts that they said gave consumers the impression they maintained control over shared personal data. Prosecutors argued that Facebook’s actual practices allowed third-party applications to gain access to user information, including the app involved in the Cambridge Analytica controversy.

The state also alleged Meta gave some users exceptions from its policies while publicly presenting its rules as more uniformly enforced.

Meta rejected the allegations, arguing that New Mexico presented portions of company statements without sufficient context. Its attorneys said Meta had acknowledged shortcomings in areas such as privacy and misinformation and continued working to improve its systems.

The company also disputed claims that it sells Facebook users’ personal information and argued that harmful content does not financially benefit its business.

The jury ultimately sided with New Mexico on key consumer-deception claims, finding Facebook liable for more than 2 million violations, according to reports on the verdict. Judge Francis Mathew will determine the financial penalties associated with the violations identified by jurors.

The decision adds to Meta’s legal challenges in New Mexico over Facebook and Instagram, including separate litigation involving platform safety and consumer protection.