Facebook Liable in Privacy Case
A New Mexico jury found Facebook liable for deceiving users about privacy protections following a two-week trial in Santa Fe.
Quick facts
- A two-week trial concluded in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
- Prosecutors cited roughly 87 million harvested profiles tied to Cambridge Analytica.
- Attorneys for the state requested a maximum penalty of $5,000 per violation.
Why it matters
This verdict marks another legal challenge for major technology platforms regarding user data handling and transparency. While the immediate penalties and final financial amounts depend on the judge's ruling in Santa Fe, the outcome highlights ongoing state-level scrutiny of past corporate data practices. Broader implications for federal regulations or similar state actions remain unconfirmed.
A New Mexico jury found Facebook liable for deceiving users about privacy protections on the social media platform, according to reports from CBS News. The verdict arrived on a Friday following a two-week trial in Santa Fe.
People are searching for updates on this legal action because the trial focused on accusations that Facebook misled users regarding a data breach. That breach stemmed from a third-party personality quiz that harvested data from roughly 87 million profiles and sold it to a political consulting firm, Cambridge Analytica.
What happened during the trial?
Jurors sided with prosecutors and found that Facebook's failure to protect user data impacted New Mexico's entire population of more than 2 million people. According to CBS News, jurors also found Facebook misled the public about investigations into data brokers following the scandal, holding the company liable for over 2 million violations.
What happens next?
It is now up to a judge to determine how much the company must pay. Attorneys representing the state asked for the maximum penalty of $5,000 per violation. During closing arguments, lawyers for Facebook claimed the state's evidence was outdated. Further details regarding the final financial penalty were not available at the time of writing.
Frequently asked questions
What did the New Mexico jury decide?
A New Mexico jury found Facebook liable for deceiving users about privacy protections and misleading the public about investigations into data brokers following the Cambridge Analytica scandal.
Who is involved in the legal case?
The case involves the state of New Mexico, led by Attorney General Raúl Torrez, and Facebook, which is owned by Meta. The trial took place in Santa Fe.
What was the Cambridge Analytica connection?
A third-party personality quiz harvested data from roughly 87 million profiles and sold the information to Cambridge Analytica, a political consulting firm whose clients included the 2016 campaign for President Trump.
What is the penalty for Facebook?
The exact financial penalty was not determined at the time of writing. State attorneys asked the judge for the maximum penalty of $5,000 per violation.
How long did the trial last?
The trial in Santa Fe lasted for two weeks before the jury reached its verdict finding the company liable.
Where did the trial take place?
The trial was held in Santa Fe, New Mexico, with a local jury evaluating evidence presented by state prosecutors against the social media platform.
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Last checked Sep 26, 2026 at 5:09 AM. Trends move fast, so details may change. How we work
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