Jury Finds Facebook Liable for Deceiving Users on Privacy

Why it matters locally: While the verdict occurred in New Mexico, the ruling sets a precedent for how tech companies handle user data nationwide. South Dakota residents, like all Americans, rely on social media platforms and could be affected by changes in privacy policies or future legal actions stemming from this decision.

A New Mexico jury found Facebook liable for deceiving users about privacy protections. The verdict concluded a trial that focused on accusations the social media company misled individuals regarding a data breach. The breach originated from a third-party personality quiz. This quiz harvested data from an estimated 87 million user profiles. The company Cambridge Analytica, a political consulting firm, then purchased this data. Cambridge Analytica used the data to generate targeted advertisements.