Facebook could face billions of dollars in penalties after a New Mexico jury found it misled users about their personal data and other platform practices.
The September 25 verdict found 43,899,725 violations of the state’s Unfair Practices Act, according to the New Mexico Department of Justice. The case covered Facebook’s privacy assurances, content moderation claims and response to the Cambridge Analytica scandal.
That scandal involved personal information harvested from as many as 87 million Facebook users through a third-party app. Years later, the legal fallout continues for parent company Meta.
Facebook users already began receiving payments from a separate $725 million privacy settlement in September 2025. This latest verdict could bring another substantial bill.
Facebook faces penalties of up to $5,000 per violation
The jury found Facebook made misleading assurances about users’ control over their information and how the company shared it with third parties.
It also found deceptive statements about Facebook’s promised investigations into apps following Cambridge Analytica. Those commitments included auditing developers, banning those who misused data and notifying affected users.
New Mexico is seeking the maximum civil penalties available. At up to $5,000 for each violation, the theoretical total exceeds $219 billion. However, the judge will determine the actual penalty.
The findings also extended beyond privacy, covering statements about misinformation, hate speech and whether Facebook applied its rules consistently.
Meta disputed the outcome. A spokesperson told Reuters the company would continue defending itself “against efforts to distort our record.”
Its lawyers argued that the state had taken statements out of context. Meta also denied selling users’ information.
The case adds to Meta’s recent legal scrutiny, including an approximately $18 billion settlement over teen safety announced in August.
Separately, the company recently responded after its Muse AI shared a YouTuber’s home address with Facebook Marketplace buyers. The creator later explained that he had selected a permission setting authorizing messages containing his address, but expected further approval before offers were accepted.
