SANTA FE, N.M. — A New Mexico jury has found Facebook liable for deceiving users about privacy protections in a case tied to the Cambridge Analytica data scandal, marking a major victory for the state after a two-week trial.
The lawsuit centered on allegations that Facebook misled users about how their personal information was collected, shared, and protected on the platform. State attorneys argued the company failed to adequately safeguard user data and did not promptly notify users after learning that personal information had been accessed through a third-party app.
Jurors sided with the state, finding that Facebook’s conduct violated New Mexico law. The jury also concluded that the deceptive practices affected New Mexico users statewide, a finding that could significantly increase the financial consequences facing the company.
The case stems from the international Cambridge Analytica controversy, which came to light in 2018. The scandal involved data harvested from tens of millions of Facebook profiles through a personality quiz app. The information was later obtained by Cambridge Analytica, a political consulting firm that worked on the 2016 presidential campaign of then-candidate Donald Trump.
During closing arguments, attorneys for the state argued that Facebook placed profits ahead of user privacy by collecting and monetizing personal data while assuring users their information was secure.
Facebook denied wrongdoing throughout the trial. Defense attorneys argued the state failed to prove users were deceived and described the data privacy incident as an isolated event from 2014 that does not reflect the company’s current operations. The company also argued that Facebook is a free service and therefore falls outside portions of New Mexico’s Unfair Practices Act.
Jurors were asked to evaluate 34 statements made by Facebook regarding privacy controls and data sharing and determine whether those statements violated New Mexico’s consumer protection laws.
While the jury has now determined liability, the case is not over.
A judge will decide the amount of any civil penalties. Attorneys for the state are seeking the maximum penalty of $5,000 per violation, potentially exposing Facebook to substantial financial penalties.
Facebook has not yet announced whether it plans to appeal the verdict.
