A court in New Mexico, United States, has ordered Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, to pay a $25 billion fine over allegations concerning the protection and use of users’ personal information. The ruling was issued on October 21, 2026. Meta has said it will appeal the decision.
The case concerns allegations that Meta misled users about the security of their personal information and the extent of their control over how their data was accessed and used.
In September 2026, a jury found Meta responsible for violating New Mexico’s consumer protection law. The case involved approximately 43.9 million violations. Following the jury’s finding, Judge Francis Mathew ordered the company to pay a $25 billion fine.
The court also ordered that interest would accrue on the outstanding amount at an annual rate of 15% until the fine was paid.
The case dates back to concerns over the collection and use of Facebook users’ personal information. In 2018, the Cambridge Analytica controversy brought allegations to light that the personal information of tens of millions of Facebook users had been obtained without their full consent.
Cambridge Analytica was a British political consulting company accused of using information obtained from Facebook to deliver political advertisements.
The controversy affected the information of approximately 87 million Facebook users. Data concerning users’ preferences, interests and political views was collected and used to target advertisements.
Following the controversy, questions were raised about Facebook’s data protection practices. The New Mexico government filed a lawsuit against the company in 2021.
The New Mexico government argued in court that Facebook had assured users that their personal information remained under their control. However, information connected to Facebook accounts could also be accessed by other applications and companies.
According to the state’s allegations, users were not adequately informed about how their information was collected, with whom it was shared or how it could be used. The court ruled against the company in the case.
Meta has opposed the decision imposing the $25 billion fine. The company’s chief legal officer, C.J. Mahoney, said that a ruling of this kind could make it difficult to conduct business in New Mexico.
The company has said it will challenge the decision in a higher court and expects the appeal to provide relief. The final payment position could change following the appeal process.
The ruling has raised questions about whether Facebook and Instagram users will receive any portion of the fine. No such arrangement has been announced.
The lawsuit was filed by the New Mexico government, and the court ordered the fine to be paid to the state. According to New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez, the money received will be used for government activities related to education.
The ruling does not currently provide for direct compensation to individual Facebook users.
Meta has previously faced legal action over the handling of personal information. In 2019, the US Federal Trade Commission imposed a $5 billion fine on Facebook.
In a separate privacy case, Meta agreed to a $725 million settlement in 2022 to resolve the matter.
The New Mexico ruling adds another legal challenge for the company as it prepares to appeal the decision.
The case concerns the privacy of information shared through Facebook and Instagram. Users’ account settings determine who can access their photos, posts and other information. Accounts can also be linked to third-party applications that may have permission to access certain data.
The ruling against Meta remains subject to the company’s announced appeal. The next steps in the case will depend on proceedings before the higher court.
