Meta fined $25 billion over privacy deception

A New Mexico jury found Meta guilty of 43 million violations of the state's unfair practices act, stemming from the Cambridge Analytica scandal when the company operated as Facebook. The jury initially awarded $219.5 billion, but Judge Francis Mathew reduced the penalty to $25 billion. The fine grows 15% annually until paid in full. Meta also faces a separate $17.1 billion settlement with U.S. states over addictive product claims. Meta's chief legal officer vowed to appeal, calling the ruling an obstacle to doing business in New Mexico.