New Mexico AG Wins $25B Meta Verdict, Faces Free Speech Backlash

A New Mexico jury has ordered Meta to pay a $25 billion penalty in a lawsuit brought by Attorney General Raúl Torrez, who has received political backing from a George Soros-funded super PAC. The judgment has sparked criticism that it could chill free speech and business operations in the state. The case, filed in 2021 after the Cambridge Analytica scandal, found Meta liable for misleading users about privacy and content-moderation practices. Meta argues the ruling imposes a "tax on speech" and plans to appeal, while Torrez says the verdict holds powerful tech companies accountable. Critics contend the state's arguments targeted Meta's content policies, including its shift from third-party fact-checkers to Community Notes. The penalty far exceeds New Mexico's $11 billion annual budget, and free speech advocates warn it could deter companies from operating in the state.