A jury in New Mexico concluded that Facebook breached the state's Unfair Practices Act 43,899,725 times. The verdict was delivered on September 25 in the case State of New Mexico v. Facebook, Inc., which originated from a 2021 lawsuit filed by the state's attorney general regarding the Cambridge Analytica data scandal.
The legal proceedings in Santa Fe lasted two weeks. According to the New Mexico Department of Justice, the jury determined that the company provided false or misleading information regarding its data collection, protection, and sharing practices. The findings also covered the platform's management of hate speech and misinformation.
The jury further characterized the company's statements as willful, specifically concerning investigations into third-party applications following the Cambridge Analytica incident. Meta representatives stated that the company disagrees with the ruling and intends to continue its defense.
During the trial, Meta's legal team admitted to past errors but explicitly denied allegations that the company sold user data. The company maintains that its platforms are forums for free expression and that it holds the right to manage its services to serve its community interests.
