Jury orders $25 billion penalty against Meta in New Mexico

A jury in the State District Court in Santa Fe concluded that Meta violated New Mexico’s consumer-protection statutes 43 million times, each infraction carrying a potential penalty of up to $5,000. The cumulative assessment resulted in a $25 billion fine, the largest monetary penalty imposed on the company to date. Meta reported an estimated $42.6 billion profit for the first half of 2026, meaning the fine would represent roughly 60 % of that profit.

The court determined that Meta deceived users by permitting third-party applications to access personal data without obtaining consent. Meta’s chief legal officer C. J. Mahoney said the company will appeal the decision, expressing confidence in a successful outcome.

The fine follows an earlier $375 million penalty imposed by New Mexico for violations related to online child-safety regulations.