New Mexico Attorneys Request Judge to Impose $35-40 Billion Fine on Facebook for State Law Violations
Attorneys representing the State of New Mexico have requested a district court judge to fine Facebook between $35 billion and $40 billion. This request follows a Santa Fe jury's finding that the social media giant willfully violated New Mexico state law concerning unfair and deceptive trade practices. The jury determined that Facebook committed approximately 44 million violations of the state's Unfair Practices Act through statements related to user data, misinformation, and hate speech on its platform. New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez had previously indicated that the total cost of violations could reach up to $219 billion. Randi McGinn, the attorney representing the state, argued that the requested amount would hold Facebook accountable and serve as a deterrent for other large companies, while also respecting due process rights in case of an appeal. Meta's attorney, Matt Nicholson, countered that the state's request is unprecedented, violates the company's Eighth and Fourteenth Amendment rights, a...
