Jury finds Facebook liable of deceiving users in Cambridge Analytica case

Key Points:

• A New Mexico jury found Facebook liable for deceiving users about privacy protections related to the Cambridge Analytica data breach, which involved the harvesting of data from approximately 87 million profiles.
• The jury determined Facebook's failure to protect user data affected all 2 million residents of New Mexico and found the company liable for over 2 million violations, with the state seeking the maximum $5,000 penalty per violation.
• Facebook, now Meta, disputed the verdict, arguing that evidence was outdated and emphasizing their First Amendment rights to manage their platforms, while the company has agreed to pay up to $18 billion in a separate multistate child safety settlement that excluded New Mexico.
• New Mexico remains the only state pursuing legal action related to the Cambridge Analytica breach, having previously secured $942 million in judgments against Meta for failing to protect minors and mandating new safety measures on its platforms.
• The New Mexico Attorney General's office is expected to hold a press conference to discuss the case further, highlighting the state's ongoing efforts to hold Meta accountable for privacy and safety violations.