consultancy Cambridge Analytica obtained personal information relating to as many as 87 million Facebook users through a third-party application.
Much of the information was collected without users’ informed consent and subsequently exploited for political profiling and targeted advertising.
The revelations triggered international investigations, regulatory penalties and widespread concerns about the influence of social media platforms on democratic processes.
Millions of violations
New Mexico launched legal proceedings against Meta in 2021, alleging that the company had systematically misrepresented its privacy practices.
A jury identified more than 43 million violations of the state’s consumer protection legislation.
Judge Mathew determined that the statutory calculation could justify penalties exceeding $219 billion but reduced the amount to $25 billion.
New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez described the decision as a historic warning to Silicon Valley about corporate responsibility.
Meta prepares an appeal
Meta disputes the allegations and intends to appeal the ruling.
The company argues that the judgment threatens legitimate business operations and raises questions concerning freedom of expression.
The financial penalty is therefore not necessarily the final amount Meta will ultimately pay, with further legal proceedings expected.
A turning point for Big Tech?
The case adds to growing regulatory scrutiny of technology companies over data protection, misinformation and consumer rights.
Meta has already faced substantial penalties and settlements relating to its handling of personal information.
The latest judgment demonstrates the potentially enormous financial consequences of misleading consumers about digital privacy.
For the wider technology industry, the message is significant: personal information has become one of the world’s most valuable commercial assets, but its misuse can generate liabilities measured in tens of billions of dollars.
NewsHub Finance | Technology & Regulation | 22 October 2026
consultancy Cambridge Analytica obtained personal information relating to as many as 87 million Facebook users through a third-party application.
Recent Comments