New Mexico seeks up to $40 billion in penalties from Meta after data‑privacy jury verdict
New Mexico Attorney General Randi McGinn asked Judge Francis Mathew to order Meta Platforms to pay between $35 billion and $40 billion for violating the state’s Unfair Practices Act. A Santa Fe jury found 26 of 29 statements by Meta officials misleading, affecting more than 43 million alleged violations. Meta has offered a settlement range of $345 million to $3.45 billion and says it will appeal any judgment. The judge is expected to issue a ruling by late October.
Why it matters
The company expects the penalty could significantly impact its stock price, as the state argues the amount should “speak to Meta in the only language it understands.”. If imposed, the fine would be one of the largest civil judgments in U.S. history, potentially affecting Meta’s financial position and future litigation strategy.
Key facts
- 1New Mexico requested a penalty of $35 billion to $40 billion against Meta. investing.com
- 2The jury found 26 of 29 statements by Meta misleading, constituting more than 43 million violations of state consumer‑protection law. investing.com
- 3State law allows penalties up to $5,000 per violation. investing.com
- 4Meta proposed a judgment range of $345 million to $3.45 billion. abqjournal.com
- 5Judge Francis Mathew said he will rule on the financial penalty by late October. abqjournal.com
- 6The jury’s verdict was delivered on September 25, 2026. investing.com
Open questions
- The exact penalty amount is uncertain because the state requests $35‑40 billion while Meta offers $345 million‑$3.45 billion.
Summary written by AlphAI from 3 of 3 sources. Not investment advice. Figures are as stated by the linked sources.