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Meta ordered to pay $25 billion penalty in New Mexico Cambridge Analytica case
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TryingToBeGood reddthat.com TryingToBeGood@reddthat.com
Joined: 2026-03-31
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NOT_RICK lemmy.world NOT_RICK@lemmy.world
Joined: 2023-06-12
#2 · Quote Reply

So New Mexico gets significantly more than the other states that settled. It’s still not enough, but it’s a start

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partial_accumen lemmy.world partial_accumen@lemmy.world
Joined: 2023-06-15
#3 · Quote Reply

Although the jury concluded that Meta had over 43 million violations of the state’s unfair practices act, with each transgression carrying a civil penalty as high as $5,000, a New Mexico judge was responsible for determining the ultimate fine. The Wednesday filing showed that the state was awarded $219.5 billion, but the penalty was ultimately reduced to $25 billion.

So the $25 billion judgment is a judicial reduction from the jury award of $219.5 billion.

I also like this decision from the judge:

The judge added that interest on the penalty shall accrue at the rate of 15% each year until the fine is paid off in full.

Meta will likely appeal, but not only does that not guarantee a reduction in the judgment, if they drag this out for years, New Mexico gets paid out even more.

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einlander lemmy.world einlander@lemmy.world
Joined: 2023-07-03
#4 · Quote Reply

Meta is going to cry to Daddy Trump to get his Supreme Court to dismiss this judgement against New Mexico America.

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doleo lemmy.ml doleo@lemmy.ml
Joined: 2024-11-21
#5 · Quote Reply

Although the jury concluded that Meta had over 43 million violations of the state’s unfair practices act, with each transgression carrying a civil penalty as high as $5,000, a New Mexico judge was responsible for determining the ultimate fine. The Wednesday filing showed that the state was awarded $219.5 billion, but the penalty was ultimately reduced to $25 billion. So the $25 billion judgment...

the state was awarded $219.5 billion, but the penalty was ultimately reduced to $25 billion.

would have been a better headline, tbh

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partial_accumen lemmy.world partial_accumen@lemmy.world
Joined: 2023-06-15
#6 · (edited) Quote Reply

the state was awarded $219.5 billion, but the penalty was ultimately reduced to $25 billion. would have been a better headline, tbh

Meh, I like the $25 billion headline because its the realistic result of the trial. Citing the $219.5 billion number in the headline would be clickbait because, while true with specific verbiage, it doesn't actually have any impact or expectation of that award actually occurring.

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holy_scroller lemmy.zip holy_scroller@lemmy.zip
Joined: 2026-01-29
#7 · Quote Reply

Meta is going to cry to Daddy Trump to get his Supreme Court to dismiss this judgement against New Mexico America.

State Law so doesn't matter. Only thing they can do is leave New Mexico.

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doleo lemmy.ml doleo@lemmy.ml
Joined: 2024-11-21
#8 · Quote Reply

Meh, I like the $25 billion headline because its the realistic result of the trial. Citing the $219.5 billion number in the headline would be clickbait because, while true with specific verbiage, it doesn't actually have any impact or expectation of that award actually occurring.

No, I mean more like "Meta to pay just 10% of original fine" - So people get an idea of how their judiciary system really works.

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partial_accumen lemmy.world partial_accumen@lemmy.world
Joined: 2023-06-15
#9 · Quote Reply

No, I mean more like "Meta to pay just 10% of original fine" - So people get an idea of how their judiciary system really works.

Even that would be clickbait though, because $219.5 billion isn't the "original fine", its the jury guidance. Its part of the sausage making of the justice system. The jury has a range of the fine per incident they can choose from to suggest a judgment. The judge then uses that jury guidance with additional info to determine the actual judgement. In this case $25 billion is the "original fine".

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givesomefucks lemmy.world givesomefucks@lemmy.world
Joined: 2023-06-30
#10 · Quote Reply

Meta is going to cry to Daddy Trump to get his Supreme Court to dismiss this judgement against New Mexico America.

They already got almost 90% cut off ...

The Wednesday filing showed that the state was awarded $219.5 billion, but the penalty was ultimately reduced to $25 billion.

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thesohoriots lemmy.world thesohoriots@lemmy.world
Joined: 2023-06-21
#11 · Quote Reply

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doleo lemmy.ml doleo@lemmy.ml
Joined: 2024-11-21
#12 · Quote Reply

Even that would be clickbait though, because $219.5 billion isn't the "original fine", its the jury guidance. Its part of the sausage making of the justice system. The jury has a range of the fine per incident they can choose from to suggest a judgment. The judge then uses that jury guidance with additional info to determine the actual judgement. In this case $25 billion is the "original fine".

You're technically correct, but I still disagree with you on this. My reasoning is that I think the real story here is that meta has wormed its way out of being punished adequately, again.

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partial_accumen lemmy.world partial_accumen@lemmy.world
Joined: 2023-06-15
#13 · Quote Reply

You're technically correct, but I still disagree with you on this. My reasoning is that I think the real story here is that meta has wormed its way out of being punished adequately, again.

This is where it becomes subjective. For some,Meta being "punished adequately" would mean the complete liquidation of the company and charges for executives in front of the International Criminal Court in the Hague for crimes against humanity.

A $25 billion award would be 41% of Meta's annual profit. That is substantial!

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_hovi_ lemmy.world _hovi_@lemmy.world
Joined: 2023-06-25
#14 · Quote Reply

This is where it becomes subjective. For some,Meta being "punished adequately" would mean the complete liquidation of the company and charges for executives in front of the International Criminal Court in the Hague for crimes against humanity. A $25 billion award would be 41% of Meta's annual profit. That is substantial!

At least it's not just a slap on the wrist, but I like the sound of the first paragraph!

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Danarchy lemmy.nz Danarchy@lemmy.nz
Joined: 2025-12-07
#15 · Quote Reply

That is over $25 for each man, woman, and child in NM. Nice!

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Biffsbraincell lemmy.zip Biffsbraincell@lemmy.zip
Joined: 2026-01-15
#16 · Quote Reply

That is over $25 for each man, woman, and child in NM. Nice!

If there were a billion people in New Mexico it would be $25 each, so I'd say it's a bit over.

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ouRKaoS lemmy.today ouRKaoS@lemmy.today
Joined: 2023-10-20
#17 · Quote Reply

How long before they file for a bailout "bankruptcy", and start doing business under a different name?

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ripcord lemmy.world ripcord@lemmy.world
Joined: 2023-06-10
#18 · Quote Reply

You're technically correct, but I still disagree with you on this. My reasoning is that I think the real story here is that meta has wormed its way out of being punished adequately, again.

"You're correct but you weren't negative enough so I disagree"

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douglasg14b lemmy.world douglasg14b@lemmy.world
Joined: 2023-07-01
#19 · Quote Reply

Although the jury concluded that Meta had over 43 million violations of the state’s unfair practices act, with each transgression carrying a civil penalty as high as $5,000, a New Mexico judge was responsible for determining the ultimate fine. The Wednesday filing showed that the state was awarded $219.5 billion, but the penalty was ultimately reduced to $25 billion. So the $25 billion judgment...

I doubt New Mexico will ever see the money.

What are they going to do to actually punish Facebook for not paying?

Large corporations are somewhat immune from actual consequence these days.

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douglasg14b lemmy.world douglasg14b@lemmy.world
Joined: 2023-07-01
#20 · Quote Reply

State Law so doesn't matter. Only thing they can do is leave New Mexico.

Low key win to everyone in New Mexico

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Goodlucksil lemmy.dbzer0.com Goodlucksil@lemmy.dbzer0.com
Joined: 2025-08-15
#21 · Quote Reply

I doubt New Mexico will ever see the money. What are they going to do to actually punish Facebook for not paying? Large corporations are somewhat immune from actual consequence these days.

They can geoban Meta. Since pretty much who uses Meta services doesn't know how to use VPNs, there's a lot of pressure put on them.

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Goodlucksil lemmy.dbzer0.com Goodlucksil@lemmy.dbzer0.com
Joined: 2025-08-15
#22 · Quote Reply

If there were a billion people in New Mexico it would be $25 each, so I'd say it's a bit over.

25 billion (2,5×10^10) divided by the population of new mexico (~2,125,000) is ~11,765$. Per citizen.

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Shin piefed.social Shin@piefed.social
Joined: 2026-03-25
#23 · Quote Reply

I don’t have the data, but while the revenue from this Cambridge case is greater than the 25B, this 25B is just the cost of doing business.

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DupaCycki lemmy.world DupaCycki@lemmy.world
Joined: 2025-08-17
#24 · Quote Reply

I'm willing* to bet $25B Meta won't have to pay out anywhere close to $25B in the end.

*Willing, but not necessarily able. Terms and conditions apply.

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partial_accumen lemmy.world partial_accumen@lemmy.world
Joined: 2023-06-15
#25 · Quote Reply

I doubt New Mexico will ever see the money. What are they going to do to actually punish Facebook for not paying? Large corporations are somewhat immune from actual consequence these days.

Meta is building/operating the $3.3Billion Los Lunas Data Center in New Mexico.

That can change the situation on collection when the state has control where your billion dollar asset resides.

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