5 days ago
Meta’s Cambridge Analytica Settlement Leaves New Mexico Trial Ahead
Facebook user data was shared with a political research company called Cambridge Analytica.
The company used the information to help target voters during the 2016 presidential election.
Many people and governments said Facebook did not protect users’ information properly.
Meta, Facebook’s parent company, has agreed to pay almost $500 million to many states and territories.
However, New Mexico and Washington, DC, are still pursuing separate cases.
New Mexico’s trial is scheduled to begin on September 8.
New Mexico also says Facebook helped spread harmful content and failed to protect children from online predators.
Meta has denied wrongdoing and is appealing an earlier New Mexico verdict.
Meta agreed to pay nearly $500 million to 46 states and two US territories over the Cambridge Analytica data leak.
New Mexico and Washington, DC, did not join the settlement and still have lawsuits pending against Meta.
New Mexico’s case is scheduled for trial on September 8 and includes allegations about harmful content and user-data practices.
The data of as many as 87 million Facebook users was shared with Cambridge Analytica and used to target voters in 2016.
Meta has previously agreed to a $5 billion Federal Trade Commission settlement and a $725 million class-action settlement over the scandal.
- Who
- Meta Platforms, Inc.; New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez; Washington, DC officials; and Cambridge Analytica.
- What
- Meta agreed to a nearly $500 million settlement with 46 states and two US territories over the Cambridge Analytica data leak, while New Mexico and Washington, DC continue separate lawsuits.
- Where
- The settlement involves US states and territories; related litigation includes New Mexico, Washington, DC, and a prior trial in Oakland, California.
- When
- The data was shared in connection with the 2016 presidential election; New Mexico’s trial is scheduled for September 8. The settlement payments are expected to begin in about 30 days.
- Why
- The lawsuits concern the sharing and use of Facebook user data without users’ knowledge, along with allegations about Facebook’s broader content and child-safety practices.
State Allegations
Meta’s Position
User-data practices
State Allegations
New Mexico alleges Facebook cultivated user trust through a “charade” and allowed third-party access to user data even after policy changes restricted such access.
Meta’s Position
Meta has denied wrongdoing and declined to comment on New Mexico’s upcoming trial.
Broader platform conduct
State Allegations
New Mexico says its trial will address Facebook’s alleged amplification of harmful content and themes, in addition to data-related conduct.
Meta’s Position
Meta is appealing New Mexico’s March verdict concerning alleged failures to protect children from online predators.
Resolving the scandal
State Allegations
New Mexico and Washington, DC are continuing their cases rather than accepting the multistate settlement’s release of current and future claims.
Meta’s Position
Meta has reached settlements with many states, the Federal Trade Commission, and Facebook users to resolve litigation linked to the scandal.
Key facts
- Settlement amount
- Nearly $500 million
- Settlement participants
- 46 states and two US territories
- Data affected
- Up to 87 million Facebook users
- Remaining lawsuits
- New Mexico and Washington, DC
- New Mexico trial
- Scheduled for September 8
- Earlier FTC settlement
- $5 billion, agreed in 2019
- Class-action settlement
- $725 million, agreed in December 2022
Sources
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