New Mexico Jury Finds Facebook Liable Over Privacy Claims, With Penalties Still Pending
Summary
A New Mexico jury found Facebook liable for more than 43 million consumer-protection violations over claims about user privacy. A judge will decide penalties; the case referenced data harvested from roughly 87 million profiles through a third-party quiz.
Key points
- Jurors found Facebook liable for more than 43 million violations of New Mexico’s consumer-protection law.
- The case concerned claims that Facebook misled users about privacy protections and investigations into third-party app developers.
- The trial revisited a personality quiz that harvested data from roughly 87 million profiles and sold it to Cambridge Analytica.
- The jury did not find that the state proved Facebook made false claims about removing harmful content.
- The judge will decide penalties at a hearing scheduled for Oct. 1; the state is seeking up to $5,000 per violation and an injunction.
- Meta said it disagreed with the verdict and would continue to defend itself.
Article Details
- Event Type
- A New Mexico jury found Facebook liable for violations of state consumer protection law over deceptive statements about user privacy protections and investigations into third-party app developers.
- Impact
- The jury found more than 43 million violations affecting New Mexico residents. The judge will determine penalties at a later hearing; the state is seeking up to $5,000 per violation and an injunction. The alleged underlying breach involved a third-party personality quiz that harvested data from roughly 87 million profiles and sold it to Cambridge Analytica. Facebook disputes the verdict.
People
Alex BurgosMeta spokesperson who disputed the verdict.Mark ZuckerbergMeta CEO; a deposition statement about the company's content-moderation systems was presented to jurors.Peter OrmerodVillanova University associate professor of law who commented on the likely financial impact of the case.Randi McGinnAttorney representing New Mexico in the case.Raúl TorrezNew Mexico Attorney General who said money awarded would go to the state's education system.