A New Mexico jury has found that Meta Platforms misled state residents about Facebook’s handling of user data and certain platform policies. The verdict came after a two week trial stemming from allegations linked to the Cambridge Analytica data scandal.
The case focused on claims that Meta gave users misleading information about how their personal data could be shared with third party applications, as well as how the platform handled hate speech and misinformation. The state argued that users were led to believe they had greater control over their information than they actually did.
Jurors found 26 of 29 statements highlighted by the state to be misleading. They also found more than 43 million violations based on the number of people affected. A judge will now decide the civil penalties, which could reach up to $5,000 per violation under New Mexico law. Meta has disagreed with the verdict and said it will continue to defend itself.