# Meta Ordered to Pay $25 Billion in New Mexico Data Privacy Case

> Meta faces $25 billion penalty after New Mexico jury finds data deception.
- Title: Meta Ordered to Pay $25 Billion in New Mexico Data Privacy…
- Summary: Meta faces $25 billion penalty after New Mexico jury finds data deception. New Mexico ordered Meta to pay $25 billion for misleading users about data privacy…
- Keywords: lawsuits, data privacy, facebook, meta, new mexico, cambridge analytica, data breach, consumer protection, news, politics, world, Ordered
- Source: Straight Arrow — https://san.com/cc/meta-to-pay-25b-to-new-mexico-for-deceiving-customers-in-latest-legal-loss
- Published: 2026-10-21T18:35:13+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: lawsuits, data privacy, facebook, meta, new mexico, cambridge analytica, data breach, consumer protection, news, politics, world
## New Mexico Court Orders Meta
A New Mexico judge ordered tech giant Meta to pay $25 billion in damages for deceiving its users about data privacy practices.
## Cambridge Analytica Scandal
The state sued Meta over the Cambridge Analytica scandal, in which Cambridge Analytica collected Facebook user data for political advertising.
## Jury Ruling Against Meta
Last month, a jury ruled against Meta, saying it violated New Mexico’s consumer protection laws 43 million times.
## Penalty Calculation
Each violation carried a penalty of up to $5,000, with the judge reducing the maximum penalty from $219.5 billion to $25 billion.
## Previous Legal Wins
This is New Mexico’s second legal win against Meta this year, following an August award of $567 million for young users.
## Earlier Settlement
Meta also faced a landmark settlement in March with 47 states and the District of Columbia after agreeing to pay up to $17.1 billion in penalties.
## Meta's Appeal Plan
Meta has said it plans to appeal the verdict, arguing the penalty is 'shocking to the conscience' and could be reduced.
## Attorney General's Statement
New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez framed the ruling as a victory for consumers and a warning to the tech industry.
## Financial Impact
The penalty will carry 15% annual interest until paid, with Meta's stock rising 2% following the announcement.
## Historic Context
The Cambridge Analytica scandal became public in 2018, revealing data from 87 million Facebook profiles was harvested without consent.
## Data Exposure
87 million profiles were exposed through a third-party personality quiz and sold to Cambridge Analytica without user consent.
## Jury Findings
The jury found 26 of 29 public statements Meta and its leadership made about data privacy were misleading.
## State's Legal Strategy
New Mexico was the only state to pursue a trial after 48 other states accepted an $18 billion settlement.
## Future Actions
The state is seeking an injunction to stop Meta from continuing the practices that led to the jury's finding of liability.
## Meta's Defense
Meta disputed the ruling and said it planned to appeal, arguing the penalty is 'shocking to the conscience'.
## Consequence
The $25 billion penalty will fund school construction for the next 100 years, according to New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez.
## Key takeaway

New Mexico ordered Meta to pay $25 billion for misleading users about data privacy in Cambridge Analytica case.