Jury finds Facebook liable of deceiving users in Cambridge Analytica case

A New Mexico jury on Friday found Facebook liable for deceiving users about privacy protections on the social media platform.

It is now up to the judge to determine how much the company would pay, with attorneys representing the state asking for the maximum $5,000 penalty per violation.

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Jurors sided with prosecutors, finding Facebook’s failure to protect users’ data impacted New Mexico’s entire population of more than 2 million people.

“For years, Facebook operated as if the rules that apply to everyone else didn’t apply to them. Today, a jury of New Mexicans said otherwise,” New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez said in a statement. “This is a historic verdict, not just for New Mexico, but for every state fighting to hold Big Tech accountable.”

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A Meta spokesperson told CBS News the company disagreed with the jury’s verdict and will continue to defend “against efforts to distort our records.” The company also noted that free speech issues “featured very prominently” in the case.

“We have a First Amendment right to manage those platforms in a way we believe best serves the interests of our community,” the spokesperson said. “This means prioritizing free speech, protecting our users’ information and giving them control over their data.”

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Also this year, New Mexico won judgments totaling $942 million from Meta in a two-phase trial about the company’s safety protections for minors. Furthermore, the court ordered Meta to implement new safeguards, including age-verification technology and time limits on its platforms.

“Let this be a warning to every technology company doing business in our state,” Torrez said Friday. “If you lie to New Mexicans about how you use their data, we will find out, and we will hold you accountable.”

(*) Full article: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/facebook-liable-deceiving-users-cambridge-analytica/