A New Mexico court has ordered Meta to pay a $25 billion fine following a privacy lawsuit linked to the Cambridge Analytica scandal. The ruling concludes a case initiated in 2021 regarding the company's handling of user data and content moderation practices.
A jury previously found Meta liable for over 43 million violations of the state's Unfair Practices Act. While the initial potential penalty calculated by the court reached $219.5 billion, the judge reduced the final amount to $25 billion.
The court's decision highlights systematic failures in Meta's internal investigations and intentional misconduct. The judgment also mandates a 15 percent annual interest rate on the unpaid balance until the full amount is settled.
Meta has announced its intention to appeal the ruling. The company's legal counsel criticized the decision, arguing that the penalty creates an unsustainable business environment and imposes restrictions on online speech.
This case is separate from a $17 billion settlement Meta reached in August with a coalition of state attorneys general regarding child safety. New Mexico did not participate in that agreement, allowing its independent litigation to proceed.
