Jury finds Facebook liable for deceiving users in Cambridge Analytica case

A New Mexico jury concluded on Friday that Facebook was responsible for misleading users regarding privacy safeguards on the social media platform. The judge's decision now dictates the financial penalty, with state attorneys seeking the maximum $5,000 fee per breach. The two-week trial in Santa Fe centered around claims that Facebook misled users about a data breach caused by a third-party personality quiz that gathered information from around 87 million profiles and sold it to political firm Cambridge Analytica.

This data was utilized to produce targeted advertisements for various entities, including the 2016 Trump presidential campaign. Jurors agreed with prosecutors, citing Facebook's failure to safeguard users' data affected all of New Mexico's population of over 2 million residents. New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez stated, "For years, Facebook operated as if the rules that apply to everyone else didn't apply to them.

Today, a jury of New Mexicans said otherwise." The verdict is hailed as historic not just for New Mexico, but for every state striving to hold Big Tech accountable. Facebook's legal team argued that the state's evidence was outdated, and despite five years to gather evidence, New Mexico managed to prove only one additional instance of a data breach.

Meta spokesperson told CBS News that the company disagrees with the jury's verdict and will continue to defend against attempts to tarnish their reputation. The company also highlighted the issue of free speech, asserting their right to manage platforms in the manner they deem best for their community, which includes prioritizing free speech, protecting user data, and offering control over personal information.

Meta had previously agreed in August to pay up to $18 billion to settle a multistate lawsuit surrounding child safety concerns, a deal that includes an agreement to release Meta from future liability related to the Cambridge Analytica privacy breach. This makes New Mexico the only state pursuing a case in this area. Florida was the only other state that did not sign the settlement, deeming it insufficiently harsh on Meta.

New Mexico has also secured judgments totaling $942 million from Meta in a two-phase trial concerning the company's safety measures for minors, resulting in the implementation of new safeguards such as age-verification technology and time limits on their platforms. New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez declared, "Let this be a warning to every technology company doing business in our state.

If you lie to New Mexicans about how you use their data, we will find out, and we will hold you accountable."