Facebook Goes on Trial Over Cambridge Analytica Scandal
Facebook Goes on Trial Over Cambridge Analytica Scandal
The News
Facebook went on trial in New Mexico on Wednesday over the Cambridge Analytica data scandal, with opening statements set to begin in state court in Santa Fe.
New Mexico is the only state still pursuing a Cambridge Analytica case against Meta, The Independent reported — every other state signed it away in a settlement last month.
The state argues Facebook failed to warn or protect users from a personality quiz that harvested data from roughly 87 million profiles and sold it to the political consulting firm.
What the State Wants
New Mexico is seeking the maximum civil penalties under the state's Unfair Practices Act — up to $5,000 per violation — plus an injunction to halt future breaches of user data.
The state estimates about 350,000 New Mexicans were exposed in the breach.
Timeline
A personality quiz on Facebook harvests data from roughly 87 million profiles. It is sold to Cambridge Analytica and used to generate targeted ads during the presidential election. The now-defunct firm's clients included Donald Trump's 2016 campaign.
New Mexico secures a total of $942 million from Meta in a two-phase trial over the company's safety protections for minors. The court also orders Meta to add safeguards including age verification technology and time limits.
Meta agrees to pay up to $18 billion to settle a multi-state suit over child safety and privacy. Forty-eight states sign. Buried in the 130-page settlement, they release Meta from future liability over the Cambridge Analytica breach. Florida is the only other state that does not sign, saying the deal is not tough enough.
New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez issues a statement ahead of trial.
Opening statements begin in state court in Santa Fe.
Reactions
"Facebook's data breach didn't just expose private information, it revealed a pattern of misrepresentation about how user data was collected, shared, and exploited," Torrez said in his statement Tuesday.
Florida, the other state that refused to sign the multi-state settlement, said the deal was not tough enough on the company.
The Independent's report does not include a response from Meta.
What's Next
The trial is expected to last around four weeks.
It will include a video deposition of Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg.
More
Meta owns Facebook and Instagram and makes nearly all of its revenue from advertising sales.
New Mexico has taken a go-it-alone approach to prosecuting the company, and it is the only state that pushed the Cambridge Analytica claims toward a trial rather than folding them into the national settlement.
Poll
Was New Mexico right to reject the multi-state Meta settlement?
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