A New Mexico state court has ordered Facebook-parent company Meta to pay a $25 billion penalty following a long legal battle stemming from the Cambridge Analytica data privacy scandal that came to light in 2018.

The ruling, which was made on Tuesday, is one of the largest data privacy penalties ever imposed by a US court and brings an end to a highly publicized legal fight that has been ongoing for nearly eight years.

The Cambridge Analytica scandal involved the misuse of personal data from millions of Facebook users, which was then used to influence elections in several countries, including the US.

In 2018, it emerged that the data of around 87 million Facebook users had been harvested by Cambridge Analytica without their consent, and that the firm had used this data to create targeted political advertisements during the 2016 US presidential election.

Facebook was initially criticized for its handling of the scandal, with many accusing the company of not doing enough to prevent the misuse of user data.

However, Meta has consistently maintained that it took steps to address the issue and prevent similar scandals from happening in the future.

The $25 billion penalty is being imposed by a New Mexico state court as part of a settlement between Meta and the state’s Attorney General’s office.

The ruling is seen as a major victory for data protection advocates, who have been pushing for tougher regulations on tech companies to prevent similar scandals in the future.

However, some experts have expressed concerns that the penalty may not be enough to deter other tech companies from misusing user data.

“This penalty sends a strong message that companies must take responsibility for protecting their users’ personal data,” said Mary Madden, a senior research director at the Pew Research Center. “But it’s also clear that there is more work to be done to ensure that data protection laws are effective and enforced.”

The $25 billion penalty will be paid by Meta over a period of 18 years, with annual payments of around $1.39 billion.

The ruling does not affect other Facebook subsidiaries, such as Instagram or WhatsApp, which are also owned by Meta but were not involved in the Cambridge Analytica scandal.

The court’s decision is a significant development in the ongoing debate over data protection laws and their enforcement.

“This case highlights the need for stronger data protection laws that hold tech companies accountable for protecting users’ personal data,” said Justin Hamburg, a partner at the law firm Kilpatrick Townsend.

Meta has announced that it intends to appeal the ruling, but the company’s lawyers have acknowledged that the court’s decision is likely to be upheld on appeal.

“We are disappointed with the court’s decision and plan to appeal,” said a Meta spokesperson. “However, we also acknowledge that the court’s ruling is consistent with the law and reflects our commitment to protecting users’ personal data.”

The $25 billion penalty is being imposed as part of a settlement between Meta and the New Mexico Attorney General’s office.

Under the terms of the settlement, Meta agreed to pay the penalty and implement new data protection measures to prevent similar scandals from happening in the future.

“This settlement demonstrates our commitment to protecting users’ personal data,” said the Attorney General’s office. “We look forward to working with Meta to ensure that its data protection practices are robust and effective.”

The ruling is also seen as a significant development for the US Congress, which has been considering new data protection laws.

“This case highlights the need for stronger federal data protection laws,” said Senator Ed Markey, a Democrat from Massachusetts. “We will continue to work with lawmakers and experts to ensure that our laws keep pace with the evolving landscape of tech companies and their use of personal data.”

The $25 billion penalty is one of the largest data privacy penalties ever imposed by a US court.

“This ruling sends a strong message that companies must take responsibility for protecting users’ personal data,” said Senator Amy Klobuchar, a Democrat from Minnesota. “We will continue to work with lawmakers and experts to ensure that our laws are effective in preventing similar scandals.”

The court’s decision is expected to have significant implications for the tech industry as a whole.

“This ruling has far-reaching implications for the tech industry,” said Hamburg. “It highlights the need for stronger data protection laws and more robust enforcement mechanisms to prevent similar scandals from happening in the future.”

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