**Facebook Deceived Users Over Data Privacy, US Jury Finds**
A jury in New Mexico has ruled that Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook, is liable for willfully deceiving its users regarding privacy and platform policies. This verdict represents a significant legal setback for the social media giant, marking another defeat in a year filled with legal challenges.
The case traces its origins to the Cambridge Analytica scandal, which came to light in 2018. The controversy erupted following a whistleblower's revelations that the British political consulting firm had acquired data from millions of Facebook users without their consent through a third-party application. This data was reportedly utilized for voter profiling and targeted political advertising, notably during Donald Trump's successful campaign for the presidency in 2016. The fallout from the scandal led to the collapse of Cambridge Analytica and resulted in Facebook facing billions of dollars in fines and settlements due to its data management practices.
New Mexico initiated its lawsuit against Meta in 2021, joining a broader wave of legal actions stemming from the scandal. The state accused Meta of misleading its users about the extent of third-party access to their data and the company's investigations into data brokers following the Cambridge Analytica revelations.
After a two-week trial, the jury concluded that Meta had indeed willfully deceived consumers, with the ruling indicating more than 43 million violations affecting New Mexico's population of over 2 million residents. The next step involves a judge determining the penalties, with the state seeking up to $5,000 for each violation. If granted, this could result in a staggering maximum penalty of approximately $219 billion.
In response to the verdict, Meta has denied any wrongdoing, asserting that it has been transparent regarding its privacy practices and the challenges it faces in managing misinformation. A spokesperson for the company expressed disagreement with the jury's decision and stated that Meta would continue to defend itself against what it perceives as efforts to misrepresent its record.
New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez characterized the trial as revealing "in stark detail" how Meta operates in relation to user data and privacy regulations. He hailed the jury's decision as a "historic verdict" that underscores the need to hold major technology companies accountable for their practices.
This ruling adds to Meta's legal troubles in New Mexico. Earlier in March, another jury found the company liable for 75,000 violations related to child safety, resulting in penalties totaling $375 million. A local judge subsequently labeled Meta's platforms as a "public nuisance" and mandated an additional $567 million in remedies. Meta has indicated plans to appeal these rulings as well.
Meta's legal challenges are not confined to New Mexico. Recently, the company agreed to a settlement of approximately $17 billion to resolve claims from multiple U.S. states and territories. These claims accused Meta of intentionally designing Facebook and Instagram to be addictive for children while misleading the public about associated risks. Notably, New Mexico opted out of this settlement, allowing its case to move forward to trial.
The scrutiny surrounding Meta is part of a broader examination of data practices among major technology firms. In a related case, TikTok and its parent company, ByteDance, recently agreed to pay $400 million to settle allegations of illegally collecting personal data from children without obtaining necessary parental consent. Other tech giants, including Google, Apple, and Netflix, have also faced litigation related to privacy issues.
As the legal landscape continues to evolve, the outcome of the New Mexico case and others like it may have significant implications for data privacy practices across the tech industry.