Judge Orders Meta to Pay $25 Billion to New Mexico
A New Mexico judge ordered Meta to pay $25 billion under the Unfair Practices Act, following a jury verdict finding 43.9 million willful violations.
Judge Francis Matthew of the First Judicial District Court in Santa Fe ordered Meta to pay $25 billion to the State of New Mexico under the state's Unfair Practices Act.
The order follows a jury verdict on September 25, 2026, which found 43.9 million willful violations.
Meta stated it is confident it will win on appeal, according to a report by the Albuquerque Journal.
The order in the consumer protection case follows the jury verdict, and its execution remains subject to the appeals process, the outcome of which the company expressed confidence in.
What do these terms mean?
Unfair Practices Act: A state law that prohibits deceptive or unfair trade practices and establishes penalties for them.
Willful Violation: A breach proven to have been committed by the company intentionally or through gross negligence, which often increases the penalty.
Jury: A group of citizens that listens to evidence in a trial and renders an initial verdict on liability.
Appeal: A legal challenge submitted by the company against the judgment to a higher court to review the decision.
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