Meta shocked by $25B fine after N.M. refused to join multistate settlement

Key Points:

• A New Mexico jury found Meta guilty of nearly 44 million violations of state consumer protection laws, resulting in a historic $25 billion fine, the largest ever imposed on the company.
• The penalty follows Meta's repeated and willful deception of users since 2010 regarding data control, misuse, misinformation, hate speech, and enforcement practices, as detailed by US District Judge Francis J. Mathew.
• New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez declined to join an $18 billion multistate settlement earlier this year, arguing that a higher penalty was necessary to hold Meta accountable and impact its stock price.
• Meta plans to appeal the ruling, claiming the fine is unconstitutional and arguing that the enforcement approach makes it difficult to do business in New Mexico, while critics call the penalty a necessary deterrent against deceptive practices.
• The case highlights ongoing concerns about Meta's handling of user data, misinformation, and unequal content enforcement, with calls from watchdog groups for stronger regulation and vigilance as Meta expands its AI products.