New Mexico judge orders Meta to pay $25 billion in Cambridge Analytica-era privacy case
A New Mexico judge set a $25 billion penalty against Meta after a jury found more than 43 million violations of state consumer protection law over Facebook's privacy statements.
On 21 October 2026, Judge Francis Mathew in Santa Fe ordered Meta to pay New Mexico $25 billion. In September a jury had found the company liable for more than 43 million violations of the state's Unfair Practices Act. The state had sought $35 billion to $40 billion; Meta argued for no more than about $3.4 billion. Interest accrues at 15% a year until the penalty is paid.Sources:1Associated Press (via ABC7 New York): Judge orders Meta to pay $25 billion for violating New Mexico law in the Cambridge Analytica data breach, Associated Press (via ABC7 New York), 21 October 2026 (source, opens in a new tab)2Engadget: Meta ordered to cough up $25 billion in New Mexico privacy case, Engadget, 21 October 2026 (source, opens in a new tab)
The case, filed in 2021, grew out of the Cambridge Analytica scandal, in which a personality quiz collected data from about 87 million Facebook profiles. It targeted Facebook's statements about user data, privacy settings and content moderation. The jury found the state had not proved Meta made false claims about removing harmful content such as COVID-19 misinformation. The judge called Facebook's promised post-scandal investigation "willfully ineffective."Sources:1Associated Press (via ABC7 New York): Judge orders Meta to pay $25 billion for violating New Mexico law in the Cambridge Analytica data breach, Associated Press (via ABC7 New York), 21 October 2026 (source, opens in a new tab)2Engadget: Meta ordered to cough up $25 billion in New Mexico privacy case, Engadget, 21 October 2026 (source, opens in a new tab)
Meta says it will appeal; its chief legal officer, C.J. Mahoney, called the penalty "a tax on speech." Attorney General Raúl Torrez said the money will go to the state's education system. New Mexico and Florida did not join the August multistate settlement with Meta, which AP put at $18 billion across 48 states; other reports give a different figure.Sources:1Associated Press (via ABC7 New York): Judge orders Meta to pay $25 billion for violating New Mexico law in the Cambridge Analytica data breach, Associated Press (via ABC7 New York), 21 October 2026 (source, opens in a new tab)2Engadget: Meta ordered to cough up $25 billion in New Mexico privacy case, Engadget, 21 October 2026 (source, opens in a new tab)
Where it happened
Who is involved
- MetaOrdered to pay $25 billion; plans to appealParent company of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsAppSources:1Associated Press (via ABC7 New York): Judge orders Meta to pay $25 billion for violating New Mexico law in the Cambridge Analytica data breach, Associated Press (via ABC7 New York), 21 October 2026 (source, opens in a new tab)2Engadget: Meta ordered to cough up $25 billion in New Mexico privacy case, Engadget, 21 October 2026 (source, opens in a new tab)
- Francis MathewSet the $25 billion penalty after the jury verdictNew Mexico state district judge in Santa FeSources:1Associated Press (via ABC7 New York): Judge orders Meta to pay $25 billion for violating New Mexico law in the Cambridge Analytica data breach, Associated Press (via ABC7 New York), 21 October 2026 (source, opens in a new tab)2Engadget: Meta ordered to cough up $25 billion in New Mexico privacy case, Engadget, 21 October 2026 (source, opens in a new tab)
- Raúl TorrezBrought the case; said the money will go to educationAttorney General of New MexicoSources:1Associated Press (via ABC7 New York): Judge orders Meta to pay $25 billion for violating New Mexico law in the Cambridge Analytica data breach, Associated Press (via ABC7 New York), 21 October 2026 (source, opens in a new tab)2Engadget: Meta ordered to cough up $25 billion in New Mexico privacy case, Engadget, 21 October 2026 (source, opens in a new tab)
- C.J. MahoneyCalled the penalty "a tax on speech"Chief legal officer of Meta
- Cambridge AnalyticaObtained data from about 87 million Facebook profiles, which led to the caseDefunct political data firm
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