A jury in Santa Fe, New Mexico, has delivered a verdict finding Facebook liable for deceiving its users about privacy protections on its platform. The two-week trial focused on allegations that the company misled the public regarding a data breach involving a third-party personality quiz that harvested information from approximately 87 million profiles. This data was subsequently utilized by Cambridge Analytica, a political consulting firm, to generate targeted advertising. The jury concluded that Facebook's failure to adequately protect user data impacted the entire population of New Mexico, exceeding 2 million people. Furthermore, jurors found the company liable for over 2 million violations related to misleading the public about its internal investigations into data brokers following the initial scandal. New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez characterized the verdict as a historic step in holding large technology companies accountable for their data practices. While Meta, Facebook's parent company, expressed disagreement with the verdict and stated it would continue to defend its records, the company faces potential financial penalties, with state attorneys requesting the maximum of $5,000 per violation. This case stands out as New Mexico remains the only state to continue litigation against Meta regarding the Cambridge Analytica breach. Most other states previously entered into a multistate settlement in August regarding child safety issues, which included provisions releasing Meta from future liability concerning the Cambridge Analytica matter. Florida was the only other state that declined to sign that settlement. The verdict follows other legal challenges for Meta in New Mexico, including recent judgments totaling $942 million related to safety protections for minors on its platforms.
The article discusses a significant legal verdict against Facebook regarding its handling of user data and privacy protections during the Cambridge Analytica scandal.