What happened
A New Mexico judge ordered Meta to pay $25 billion in penalties for more than 43 million violations of the state's unfair practices law. It marks the biggest legal hit Meta has taken this year.
What the jury found
In September, a New Mexico jury ruled that Meta misled consumers over how it protected their data and prevented misinformation and hate speech on its platforms. The penalty rests on that ruling.
Where the case began
The case stems from a 2021 complaint filed after revelations that UK political consultancy Cambridge Analytica harvested data from millions of users.
Why it matters
The ruling shows the years-old Cambridge Analytica scandal is back to haunt Meta. The company has faced other losses and settlements this year, but this is the largest by amount.
