Meta Faces Record-Breaking $25B Fine in New Mexico Privacy Lawsuit
Santa Fe, NM — October 22, 2026 — A New Mexico judge has imposed a staggering $25 billion fine on Meta Platforms for misleading Facebook users about their data privacy. This case has its roots in the infamous Cambridge Analytica scandal, marking it as one of the most significant corporate penalties in American history.
Judge Francis Mathew of the First Judicial District Court in Santa Fe delivered the verdict on October 21. The jury had previously found Meta culpable in September for over 43 million violations of New Mexico’s Unfair Practices Act. The state had initially sought damages between $35 billion and $45 billion, with the full statutory calculation exceeding $219 billion.
New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez described the judgment as “the single largest, if not the largest, single state verdict against the company in American history.” He further cautioned that this ruling heralds a new era of Big Tech accountability. In response, Meta’s chief legal officer retorted that it is “all but impossible to do business” in New Mexico. The company has confirmed its intention to appeal the decision.
This ruling significantly overshadows Meta’s $5 billion FTC settlement in 2019, solidifying this case as a pivotal moment in consumer data privacy law.
Source: ABC News — Meta ordered to pay New Mexico $25 billion for violating consumer protection laws