New Mexico jury says Meta misled consumers in Cambridge Analytica case

• The case relates to Cambridge Analytica obtaining personal data from as many as 87 million Facebook users, first revealed in 2018 news reports
• This marks the second jury verdict against Meta in New Mexico in six months; in March, a jury ordered Meta to pay $375 million in penalties for misleading users about child safety on Instagram
• New Mexico was not part of a separate $16.7 billion settlement Meta reached with 47 states over claims it designed addictive features targeting children, allowing this Cambridge Analytica case to proceed to trial

Summary: Meta Found Liable in New Mexico Cambridge Analytica Case

A Santa Fe, New Mexico jury ruled Friday that Meta Platforms misled state residents regarding the Cambridge Analytica data scandal. The verdict stems from a 2021 lawsuit filed by New Mexico's attorney general, three years after reports revealed Cambridge Analytica—which worked on Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign—obtained personal data from up to 87 million Facebook users.

Key Details:

• Judge Francis Mathew will determine monetary penalties following the jury's liability finding
• The lawsuit focused on statements by CEO Mark Zuckerberg and company blog posts that allegedly misled users about control over their personal information
• Meta argued the statements were taken out of context and maintained it doesn't sell user data

Market Context:

This marks the second adverse jury verdict for Meta in New Mexico within six months. In March, a separate Santa Fe jury found Meta misled users about child safety, resulting in:

• $375 million in civil penalties
• $100 million payment into a New Mexico teen mental health fund
• Mandated protective measures for teen users

Meta subsequently reached a broader settlement with 47 U.S. states, Washington D.C., and territories, agreeing to pay up to $16.7 billion for claims related to designing addictive features targeting young users. New Mexico was excluded from this settlement, allowing the Cambridge Analytica case to proceed.

Industry Implications:

Meta and other social media companies face mounting legal pressure, with thousands of lawsuits from individuals, school districts, and municipalities alleging platforms cause youth mental health issues including anxiety, depression, and suicide. Additional trials are scheduled for October and February.