A New Mexico state judge has ordered the US tech giant Meta to pay a staggering $25 billion penalty following allegations that the platform systematically deceived users regarding data privacy and content moderation practices. The landmark ruling stems from the long-running fallout of the 2016 Cambridge Analytica scandal, which famously unfolded during the first presidential campaign of Donald Trump.

According to Judge Francis Mathew's written order, Facebook's previous assurances that users maintained control over their personal data were allegedly false. The notorious incident involved a third-party quiz application that harvested the profiles of approximately 87 million Facebook users, channeling that data to a UK-based political consulting firm for targeted advertising and political profiling.

While nearly all other US states opted to settle a broad array of legal grievances with the company for a collective $18 billion—thereby releasing the firm from future liability—New Mexico prosecutors fiercely refused to compromise. State Attorney General Raul Torrez asserted that the monumental fine should send an unambiguous message to Silicon Valley, even though Meta's legal representatives have vowed to vigorously challenge the outcome through ongoing appeals.

Source: www.dw.com