New Mexico and Facebook present opening statements in data privacy trial
New Mexico and Meta have reached the opening-statement phase of a data privacy trial, with both sides presenting their initial arguments to the court. The case puts the state in the role of plaintiff challenging Facebook's data practices.
Why this matters: A state government taking Facebook to trial over privacy is not routine. Most of these disputes settle quietly or die in arbitration. A full trial means evidence comes out in public, witnesses testify, and a court has to actually weigh what Facebook did against what the law requires. That accountability is rare. If New Mexico wins, it signals that states can use existing law to punish platforms in ways federal regulators have not managed to do.
Who should care: General readers · Privacy officers · Policy
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