Closing Arguments Concluded in New Mexico Meta Trial
Attorneys have rested their cases in the state lawsuit alleging Facebook violated consumer privacy laws.
Updated on Sept. 23, 2026 in Cybersecurity
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Closing arguments have concluded in the trial of New Mexico versus Meta regarding the Cambridge Analytica data breach. The case remains the only state-level trial targeting the company over the harvesting of 87 million user profiles.
Why it matters
New Mexico alleges Facebook deceived users about privacy protections to boost advertising revenue. The outcome will determine if the state can secure penalties of up to $5,000 per violation for the 350,000 affected residents.
The lawsuit centers on the harvesting of data from 87 million profiles via a third-party personality quiz. New Mexico seeks civil penalties of up to $5,000 per violation.
The players
Meta
Meta is a global technology company that owns and operates social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.
Mark Zuckerberg
Mark Zuckerberg is the co-founder and chief executive officer of Meta who provided a video deposition for the trial.
Cambridge Analytica
Cambridge Analytica was a political consulting firm that harvested personal data from millions of Facebook users without their explicit consent.
Donald Trump
Donald Trump is the current President of the United States who employed Cambridge Analytica during his 2016 campaign.
The details
Attorneys spent two weeks presenting evidence to the jury regarding how user data was harvested for political advertising. Meta has denied the allegations of selling user information, and CEO Mark Zuckerberg provided a video deposition for the proceedings.
Timeline
In 2016, Cambridge Analytica performed work for the Donald Trump campaign.
In August 2026, Meta reached a multistate settlement totaling $18 billion.
Closing arguments concluded on September 23, 2026, in the Albuquerque courtroom.
The Tech Race
This trial marks a departure from the $18 billion multistate settlement reached in August 2026 because New Mexico is the only state that chose to proceed to a full trial.
Residents involved in the breach may see future legal developments affecting how their personal data is treated by major platforms. A verdict against Meta could set a precedent for how consumer privacy protections are enforced at the state level.
The takeaway
The case highlights the ongoing tension between data-driven advertising models and state-level consumer protection laws. Consumers should remain aware of their privacy settings on social media platforms to limit the exposure of their personal information to third-party applications.
Further reading
For additional context on legal battles regarding user data protection, visit the Cybersecurity section.
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