Politics · World News Bureau
Meta faces $25 billion penalty in New Mexico over Cambridge Analytica data breach
New Mexico authorities have ordered Facebook parent company Meta to pay $25 billion in a case stemming from the Cambridge Analytica data privacy scandal. The penalty represents one of the largest financial judgments against the social media giant over its handling of user information.
LSN World News ·
Meta has been ordered to pay $25 billion by New Mexico in connection with the Cambridge Analytica scandal, which exposed how millions of Facebook users' personal data was improperly harvested and used for political purposes. The Cambridge Analytica crisis, which erupted in 2018, revealed that the now-defunct political consulting firm had obtained detailed information on approximately 87 million Facebook users without their consent.
The New Mexico case centers on Meta's failure to adequately protect user privacy and its misleading practices regarding data access permissions. Regulators determined that the company allowed third-party applications to collect sensitive personal information from users and their friends, which was subsequently weaponized for targeted political advertising and manipulation.
The $25 billion judgment adds to mounting legal and financial pressures facing Meta globally. The company has already faced significant fines from international regulators, including the European Union and the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, over privacy violations and data handling practices. The penalties reflect growing scrutiny of how major technology platforms manage user data.
Meta has not immediately disclosed whether it plans to appeal the New Mexico decision. The company has previously stated its commitment to improving privacy protections and implementing stricter controls on third-party data access across its platforms.