Meta Ordered to Pay $25 B Penalty in New Mexico Over Cambridge Analytica Violations

A New Mexico judge has ordered Meta to pay a $25 billion penalty over the Cambridge Analytica scandal, marking the biggest legal hit the company has taken this year.

The penalty, one of the largest ever levied against the tech titan, stems from a lawsuit that accused Meta of misleading users about their data privacy, violating more than 43 million unfair‑practice provisions.

The ruling underscores how a state unfair‑practices law can reach into the billions, turning a courtroom gavel into a cash‑register clang for the social‑media giant.

Analysts say the massive fine could pressure Meta to adopt stronger privacy safeguards, though the company has not yet issued a public response.