Meta ordered to pay $25 billion penalty in New Mexico Cambridge Analytica case

WASHINGTON, Oct 21 (OPA) — Meta has been ordered to pay $25 billion in penalties following a legal challenge in New Mexico related to the Cambridge Analytica data scandal. The judgment addresses allegations that the social media giant failed to adequately protect user information, allowing third-party access that violated privacy standards.

The penalty follows years of litigation concerning how Meta, formerly Facebook, managed user data during the 2016 election cycle. Prosecutors argued that the company’s oversight mechanisms were insufficient, leading to the unauthorized harvesting of personal profiles by the political consulting firm.

This case is part of a broader series of legal actions brought against the company since the scandal first emerged. While Meta has previously settled federal charges with the Federal Trade Commission for $5 billion, this state-level ruling represents a substantial increase in financial liability for the tech firm.

Meta is expected to appeal the decision, citing concerns over the scale of the penalty and the legal basis for the state's claims. The outcome of this appeal will likely set a precedent for how individual states handle data privacy litigation against major technology platforms moving forward.