Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement (1998)
Forty-six state attorneys general settled consumer protection litigation with the major tobacco companies over deceptive marketing. The companies agreed to pay states roughly $206 billion over 25 years and to restrict advertising aimed at minors.
The settlement channeled massive annual payments to state governments and imposed lasting marketing restrictions.
It established state attorneys general as a powerful enforcement channel against industries that mislead consumers.
New Mexico's case against Meta follows the same playbook: a state attorney general using consumer protection law with penalties that scale per violation.
