Meta ordered to pay $25 billion over Cambridge Analytica privacy case in New Mexico
A New Mexico judge has ordered Meta to pay $25 billion after a jury found it violated state consumer protection laws over Facebook privacy claims linked to the Cambridge Analytica scandal. Meta plans to appeal.
A judge in New Mexico has ordered Meta, Facebook’s parent company, to pay $25 billion in penalties for misleading people about privacy on Facebook. The case is linked to the famous Cambridge Analytica scandal.
It’s one of the largest penalties ever ordered against a tech company in a US state case. Meta says it will appeal.
What happened?
- In September 2026, a jury found Meta liable for more than 43 million violations of New Mexico’s consumer protection laws.
- The jury looked at 34 statements Facebook made about privacy and content moderation.
- On October 21, 2026, Judge Francis Mathew set the penalty at $25 billion. New Mexico had asked for $35–40 billion; Meta’s lawyers suggested no more than $3.4 billion.
What was Cambridge Analytica?
In the 2010s, a personality quiz app on Facebook collected data from about 87 million Facebook profiles, including people who never used the quiz but were friends with those who did. That data was passed to Cambridge Analytica, a political consulting firm, which used it to target political ads during the 2016 US election. The firm later shut down.
The scandal led to worldwide anger about how Facebook handled user data, and many investigations and lawsuits.
New Mexico argued that Facebook’s privacy promises misled everyone in the state, not just Facebook users. That’s why the violation count, and the penalty, became so large.
Why is New Mexico’s case different?
In August, 48 states settled with Facebook for a combined $18 billion. New Mexico and Florida did not sign that settlement, and New Mexico was the only state to take the case all the way to trial.
Meta did win one part: jurors found the state didn’t prove Facebook made false claims about removing harmful content, including COVID-19 misinformation.
What does Meta say?
Meta plans to appeal. It argues that:
- The state didn’t prove anyone was actually harmed.
- Counting violations based on everyone who might have seen a statement is unprecedented.
- The size of the penalty is unconstitutional.
Meta also says it has changed its policies since then. The final amount could be reduced on appeal, and interest builds up while the appeal continues.
Where will the money go?
New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez said the money will go to a state education fund. The state is also asking the court for an order to stop similar practices in the future.
What it means for Facebook users
- It’s a strong signal that states are willing to punish tech companies over privacy promises.
- It’s a good reminder to review your Facebook privacy settings, especially which apps and games have access to your account (Settings & privacy → Settings → Apps and websites).
Frequently asked questions
Why was Meta fined $25 billion?
A jury found Meta violated New Mexico consumer protection laws with misleading privacy statements linked to the Cambridge Analytica scandal.
Will Meta pay the $25 billion?
Meta plans to appeal, so the amount could change. The process could take a long time.
What was the Cambridge Analytica scandal?
Data from about 87 million Facebook profiles was collected through a quiz app and used by a political consulting firm to target ads in the 2016 US election.
Did other states sue Meta?
Yes. 48 states settled for $18 billion in August. New Mexico and Florida didn’t sign, and New Mexico took its case to trial.
