Mark Zuckerberg—FTC imposed record $5 billion fine on Facebook for privacy violations; Zuckerberg given personal compliance oversight responsibilities
In July 2019, the FTC imposed a record $5 billion fine on Facebook for privacy violations stemming from the Cambridge Analytica scandal and broader data practices. The settlement included unprecedented personal accountability measures for Zuckerberg, who was required to certify Facebook's privacy compliance. Meta shareholders subsequently sued Zuckerberg and other directors seeking to hold them personally liable for the fines, which settled for $190 million in November 2025. The fine reflected the FTC's finding that Facebook repeatedly violated its 2012 consent order regarding user data practices.
Scoring Impact
| Topic | Direction | Relevance | Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer Protection | -against | secondary | -0.50 |
| User Privacy | -against | primary | -1.00 |
| Overall incident score = | -0.497 | ||
Score = avg(topic contributions) × significance (critical ×2) × confidence (0.66)× agency (negligent ×0.5)
Evidence (2 signals)
Meta shareholders settled lawsuit holding Zuckerberg personally liable for privacy fines at $190 million
In November 2025, Meta's board resolved shareholder claims for $190 million. Shareholders had sued Zuckerberg and other directors seeking to hold them personally liable for billions in fines and legal costs tied to repeated privacy policy violations.
FTC imposed record $5 billion fine on Facebook for privacy violations, including personal compliance requirements for Zuckerberg
In July 2019, the FTC announced a $5 billion settlement with Facebook for privacy violations, the largest fine ever imposed by the FTC. The settlement included personal compliance certification requirements for Zuckerberg and the creation of an independent privacy committee on Facebook's board.