A New Mexico judge has ordered Meta to pay $25 billion in penalties following a jury's finding that the company misled users about data privacy. This significant penalty highlights potential financial repercussions for Big Tech concerning user privacy. The judge determined this amount after ruling New Mexico was entitled to a much larger sum based on the number of violations. The jury had previously found Meta committed millions of willful violations of the New Mexico Unfair Practices Act. The judge concluded that Facebook's privacy controls did not offer users genuine control over their data. It was also found that third-party developers could access user information through the platform. Evidence suggested Mark Zuckerberg was aware users did not fully grasp data privacy and that the company exploited this. Zuckerberg's past writings indicated a strategy of offering privacy changes without actively encouraging their use. This case is linked to the Cambridge Analytica scandal, where millions of Facebook users' data was harvested. Despite promises of increased transparency after the scandal, Meta was found to have failed in adequately informing users about data misuse. The company has indicated its intention to appeal the judge's decision.