from Hacker News

Meta to settle Cambridge Analytica case for $725M

by max23_ on 12/23/22, 6:53 AM with 5 comments

• by p-e-w on 12/23/22, 8:01 AM

  So less than 9 dollars per affected user, and they didn't even have to admit any wrongdoing.

  What an absolutely massive win for Meta, and an open invitation for them and others to reoffend in the future, for a fee that it minuscule compared to the potential profits gained from such practices.

• by tentacleuno on 12/23/22, 1:49 PM

  I think the fine should have been $15B. Their market cap is $310B dollars, and that would equate to $5 per user.

• by thdespou on 12/23/22, 10:56 AM

  Their biggest slap in the hand was the reputation hit though.

• by abudabi123 on 12/23/22, 8:29 AM

  The price of Justice is two law firms settling out of court.

• by hourago on 12/23/22, 11:31 AM

  > Cambridge Analytica, now defunct, worked for Donald Trump's successful presidential campaign in 2016.

  Cambridge Analytica helped to change the political landscape of the West. For the people that profited with tax breaks, reduced environmental protection, increased Russian influence in the USA... $725M is just peanuts (if they even own Facebook shares). Meanwhile cheating is so profitable, cheating will continue or even increase.

  Just as a comparison: Meta invests more than $10B annually on the Metaverse. Less than 10% of the money that they throw into the pit that is the Metaverse.