Meta Ordered to Pay $25 Billion in Data Privacy Case

A federal judge in New Mexico has ordered Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, to pay $25 billion for intentionally lying to the public about its handling of user data. The ruling followed a two-week trial earlier this year.

Judge Francis Mathew stated in his order that communications from senior executives, including CEO Mark Zuckerberg, were "designed to mislead the public." The judge also noted that the company's deceptions extended beyond its data practices to "the heart of its core business practices."

The fine, stemming from thousands of violations of state law, was initially calculated at $219 billion but was reduced to $25 billion by the judge. This penalty is the largest fine to date against Meta and surpasses an $18 billion settlement the company reached with California.

A spokesperson for Meta did not immediately respond to a request for comment.