New Mexico imposed a record $25 billion fine on Meta after a jury found the company guilty of nearly 44 million violations of state consumer protection laws. The state's Attorney General refused to join an $18 billion multistate settlement Meta reached earlier in the year, arguing the penalty needed to be severe enough to impact the company's stock price and drive meaningful change.
Background
New Mexico became the first state to reject Meta's proposed $18 billion multistate settlement over data misuse and deception claims, choosing instead to pursue its own case independently. This sets a precedent for how individual states can hold big tech accountable beyond federal or collective settlements.
- Source
- Ars Technica
- Published
- Oct 23, 2026 at 01:04 AM
- Score
- 8.0 / 10