Meta is again welcoming trouble as a jury in Santa Fe, New Mexico, found that Meta Platforms misled the state's residents in a case arising from allegations that a political consulting firm involved in US President Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign obtained data from millions of Facebook users without their consent. The verdict followed a two-week trial over a lawsuit filed by New Mexico's attorney general in 2021, three years after news reports revealed that the firm, Cambridge Analytica, had harvested personal data from around 87 million Facebook users via a third-party application. A Meta spokesperson said the company disagreed with the verdict and would continue to defend itself 'against efforts to distort our record.' The spokesperson said, 'Meta's platforms are forums for free expression. We have a First Amendment right to manage those platforms in a way we believe best serves the interests of our community. This means prioritizing free speech, protecting our users' information and giving them control over their data.' At a press conference after the verdict was announced, New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez said the case revealed 'in stark detail the way in which this company plays fast and loose with the rules.' The state also accused Meta of misleading New Mexicans about how it shared user data with third parties and enforced policies on hate speech and misinformation. New Mexico argued that Meta-owned Facebook failed to disclose that it sold user data to outside parties and let harmful content spread when doing so worked in favour of the company's bottom line. Jurors also found that 26 out of 29 statements identified by the state were misleading, consisting of comments about user data, hate speech, and misinformation. They rejected claims that Meta misled consumers in statements about its efforts to remove harmful content and its fact-checking practices. Judge Francis Mathew will now determine civil penalties after jurors found more than 43 million violations, based on the number of people affected by the firm's misleading statements. A career journalist who spent six years playing around with smartphones, apps and gaming. As a hobby, Rudra enjoys researching mobile games, watching ... View More