Meta ordered to pay $25 billion civil penalty in New Mexico

A New Mexico judge ordered Meta to pay a $25 billion civil penalty on Oct. 21, 2026.

The penalty follows a September jury verdict finding that Facebook misled the public about privacy protections and content policy enforcement.

A 2021 lawsuit alleged Facebook misrepresented who could access users' personal information and how it enforced policies addressing misinformation and hate speech, with the Cambridge Analytica data scandal forming part of the case.

The jury found more than 43 million violations of the state's consumer-protection law, representing calculated exposure to misleading statements.

Meta disputes the findings, argues the penalty is excessive and unconstitutional, and is expected to appeal.

The $25 billion has been ordered but not yet paid, and the judgment is subject to potential changes via appeals.

Individual Facebook users will not receive settlement checks, as the penalty is designated for New Mexico's public education system under state law, as first reported by Baller Alert.

This case concerns the legal consequences of alleged deceptive business practices in New Mexico.