In brief
A federal judge in New Mexico has fined Meta $25bn after a two‑week trial that found the company lied about how it handled Facebook user data. The full penalty, calculated at $219bn, was narrowly cut by the judge, making this the largest fine ever imposed on the tech giant. The ruling also highlighted that miscommunication from top executives, including Mark Zuckerberg, was used to deceive the public and neighbours, saying the lies extended beyond Facebook’s data practices. Meta already faced other hefty settlements this year, including an $18bn lawsuit with California. A company spokesperson has yet to comment on the decision.
The tech giant behind Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp has been hit with a record‑shattering fine amid a growing list of regulatory challenges. A federal judge in New Mexico ordered Meta to pay $25bn (£18.6bn), after a two‑week trial that found the company had intentionally misled the public about its handling of user data for years.
'The lies extend beyond Facebook's data practices,' Judge Francis Mathew said, noting that the deception ran to the core of Meta's business model. The judge also highlighted that communications among senior executives – including Zuckerberg – were designed to mislead the public.
While the full penalty, based on thousands of violations of state law, was calculated at $219bn, the judge reduced it to the $25bn figure. This marks the largest fine Meta has ever faced; earlier this year the company settled other lawsuits, including an $18bn agreement with the state of California.
Meta has yet to issue an official statement on the ruling. The fine underscores the increasing scrutiny of big‑tech firms over privacy practices and their disclosures to users.
