Meta fined $25 billion in New Mexico over Cambridge Analytica data privacy case

A jury in New Mexico ordered Meta to pay a $25 billion penalty on October 21, 2026, after finding the company misled users about data privacy in a case linked to the Cambridge Analytica scandal. This is one of the largest corporate fines in U.S. history. The verdict stemmed from a 2021 lawsuit by New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez, alleging Facebook violated the state's Unfair Practices Act 43,899,725 times over 11 years. The violations included misrepresentations by senior leadership, including CEO Mark Zuckerberg, and failures to protect user data. The judge noted a penalty exceeding $219 billion was justified under state law but reduced the amount. Meta's chief legal officer said the company will appeal, arguing the ruling makes business impossible in the state and that the fine risks violating constitutional rights.