Jury Finds Facebook Liable for Deceiving Users on Privacy

Why it matters locally: While the lawsuit was filed in New Mexico, the jury's finding against Facebook regarding data privacy could set a precedent for data protection and consumer rights nationwide, impacting Virginia residents' online privacy expectations and potentially leading to similar legal challenges or legislative action within the Commonwealth.

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.