Meta misled users about Facebook data practices, New Mexico jury finds

On September 25, a jury in Santa Fe, New Mexico, concluded that Meta Platforms misled the state's residents regarding its data practices. The verdict came after a two-week trial stemming from a lawsuit filed by New Mexico's attorney general in 2021, three years after reports surfaced that the firm Cambridge Analytica had harvested personal data from up to 87 million Facebook users via a third-party app.

Meta spokesperson stated that the company disagreed with the verdict and would continue to defend itself against claims of distorting its record. The platform operator's spokesperson emphasized Meta's commitment to free speech and the protection of user information, while also giving users control over their data.

Upon announcing the verdict, New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez highlighted the case's demonstration of the company's willingness to disregard rules. The state alleged that Meta deceived New Mexicans concerning the sharing of user data with third parties and its enforcement of policies on hate speech and misinformation. The prosecution contended that Facebook had not disclosed the sale of user data to third-party applications and permitted harmful content to spread when it was beneficial to the company's bottom line.

The jury rejected Meta's claims that it misled consumers in statements about its efforts to remove harmful content and its fact-checking practices. The state claimed that Meta sold user data to third-party apps, including Cambridge Analytica, which harvested personal information from millions of users without consent. The jury found 26 out of 29 statements identified by the state as misleading, including comments made by Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and company blog posts.

These statements allegedly led people to believe they had control over the personal information they shared on the platform or that the site had uniform policies for managing hate speech and misinformation.