INSPECTING ARCHIVED INTELLIGENCE (OUTDATED VERSION).

Meta Fined for Misrepresenting Data Privacy Practices in New Mexico

| 2026-09-28 10:40 CRITICAL LOW INDUSTRY & POLICY
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Executive Summary
AI-generated
A New Mexico jury has found Meta, the parent company of Facebook, liable for deceiving consumers about its data privacy practices. The verdict, which could cost Meta billions in civil penalties, was announced on Friday and marks a significant victory for those fighting to hold Big Tech accountable. According to the court, Meta violated the law nearly 44 million times by lying to consumers about its data privacy practices, with each violation carrying up to $5,000 in civil penalties. The jury also found that Facebook's statements about hate speech and misinformation were "willfully deceptive." This verdict is a historic one, not just for New Mexico but for every state fighting to hold Big Tech accountable. As the judge determines the final amount of damages Meta will pay, it is clear that this verdict could substantially add to the $942 million in civil penalties already ordered by a New Mexico court in March.
Technical Mitigations AI-generated
• Implementing robust data auditing and forensic analysis to detect misuse of user data by third-party applications. • Conducting regular security audits on its platform to identify vulnerabilities that could be exploited for malicious purposes. • Developing and enforcing strict community standards policies with clear exceptions for politicians, newsworthiness, and other protected groups.
Intelligence Metadata
Actors / Malware / CVEs / Campaigns
Target & Sectors
MX
legallegal technologytechnology
Incident Timeline
‎2026/09/28
A New Mexico jury found Meta liable for deceiving users about privacy protections on the platform.
organisation the New Mexico Department of Justice
“The verdict marks a significant victory for New Mexico consumers and holds one of the world’s largest technology companies accountable for its conduct,” the New Mexico Department of Justice said in a statement.
financial $942 Mexico
In a previous case, New Mexico secured $942 million over the platform’s policies to protect minors.
Also this year, New Mexico won judgments totaling $942 million from Meta in a two-phase trial about the company’s safety protections for minors.
In March, a New Mexico court ordered Meta to pay $942 million in civil penalties for breaking New Mexico’s consumer protection laws.
organisation Meta
New Mexico jury finds Meta deceived consumers about data privacy practices.
The two-week trial in Santa Fe centered on accusations that Facebook, owned by Meta, deceived users about a data breach stemming from a third-party personality quiz that harvested data from roughly 87 million profiles and sold it to a political consulting firm, Cambridge Analytica, to generate targeted ads.
financial $5,000 $ maximum penalty
The amount of damages the Meta-owned tech giant will ultimately pay will be determined by a judge in the coming weeks, but the verdict could cost Meta billions because each violation of New Mexico’s Unfair Practices Act carries up to $5,000 in civil penalties.
The jury found over 43 million violations of state consumer protection law and it is now up to the judge to determine how much the company would pay, with attorneys representing the state asking for the maximum $5,000 penalty per violation.
organisation New Mexico’s
The amount of damages the Meta-owned tech giant will ultimately pay will be determined by a judge in the coming weeks, but the verdict could cost Meta billions because each violation of New Mexico’s Unfair Practices Act carries up to $5,000 in civil penalties.
organisation Facebook’s
Jurors also held that Facebook’s statements about hate speech and misinformation were “willfully deceptive,” according to a press release from the office of New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez.
organisation Santa Fe
The two-week trial in Santa Fe centered on accusations that Facebook, owned by Meta, deceived users about a data breach stemming from a third-party personality quiz that harvested data from roughly 87 million profiles and sold it to a political consulting firm, Cambridge Analytica, to generate targeted ads.
data_breach 87 profiles
The two-week trial in Santa Fe centered on accusations that Facebook, owned by Meta, deceived users about a data breach stemming from a third-party personality quiz that harvested data from roughly 87 million profiles and sold it to a political consulting firm, Cambridge Analytica, to generate targeted ads.
organisation COVID-19
In one of the few wins for the defense, jurors found the state didn’t prove that Facebook made false claims about removing harmful content, including misinformation about the COVID-19 pandemic.
organisation Facebook
During closing arguments, Randi McGinn, an attorney representing the state, argued that Facebook profited off harmful content.
organisation Burgos
This means prioritizing free speech, protecting our users’ information and giving them control over their data,” Burgos said in a statement after the verdict.
organisation Villanova University
“It’s unlikely that this is going to be the case that effectively penalizes the company in a meaningful way,” said Peter Ormerod, an associate professor of law at Villanova University.
financial $200 company
If the state successfully persuades the judge to award the maximum civil penalties for every violation, the company could owe over $200 billion, with interest accruing if it decides to appeal.
financial $18 Meta
In August, Meta agreed to pay up to $18 billion to settle a multistate lawsuit involving child safety issues.
‎Oct. 1
A New Mexico jury has found Facebook liable for deceiving users about its privacy protections.
Tactical Metrics
Metrics
financial
942,000,000
Financial Impact / Stolen Funds
In a previous case, New Mexico secured $942 million over the platform’s policies to protect minors.
Also this year, New Mexico won judgments totaling $942 million from Meta in a two-phase trial about the company’s safety protections for minors.
In March, a New Mexico court ordered Meta to pay $942 million in civil penalties for breaking New Mexico’s consumer protection laws.
Metrics
data_breach
87,000,000
Profiles
The two-week trial in Santa Fe centered on accusations that Facebook, owned by Meta, deceived users about a data breach stemming from a third-party personality quiz that harvested data from roughly 87 million profiles and sold it to a political consulting firm, Cambridge Analytica, to generate targeted ads.
Metrics
financial
5,000
$ Maximum Penalty
The jury found over 43 million violations of state consumer protection law and it is now up to the judge to determine how much the company would pay, with attorneys representing the state asking for the maximum $5,000 penalty per violation.
The amount of damages the Meta-owned tech giant will ultimately pay will be determined by a judge in the coming weeks, but the verdict could cost Meta billions because each violation of New Mexico’s Unfair Practices Act carries up to $5,000 in civil penalties.
Metrics
financial
200,000,000,000
Financial Impact / Stolen Funds
If the state successfully persuades the judge to award the maximum civil penalties for every violation, the company could owe over $200 billion, with interest accruing if it decides to appeal.
Metrics
financial
18,000,000,000
Financial Impact / Stolen Funds
In August, Meta agreed to pay up to $18 billion to settle a multistate lawsuit involving child safety issues.
Intelligence Sources
SecurityWeek 2026-09-28
TheRecord 2026-09-28