New Mexico Seeks $35 Billion to $40 Billion Penalty From Meta

Has Meta been ordered to pay $40 billion?

No. New Mexico asked Judge Francis Mathew to impose between $35 billion and $40 billion, but he has not issued a penalty ruling.

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Why does the penalty request matter for Meta investors?

A final penalty in the tens of billions of dollars would create a substantial cash cost and increase Meta's legal exposure. The requested amount is not yet a payable liability set by the court.

What did the jury find Meta liable for?

The jury found 43,899,725 violations of New Mexico's Unfair Practices Act involving willfully deceptive statements about Facebook data practices, misinformation, hate speech and related policies.

Could the statutory penalty be higher than $40 billion?

Yes. The law allows up to $5,000 per willful violation, implying a theoretical maximum of about $219 billion, but New Mexico requested $35 billion to $40 billion because its attorney said the full amount could raise due-process concerns.

What happens next in the Meta case?

The judge gave the parties more time to submit briefs and said he expected to rule within the next three weeks. Meta argues that a penalty in the tens of billions would violate constitutional protections.