The suit by Attorney General Karl Racine marks the first formal effort to punish the tech titan over the scandal, in which Cambirdge Analytica was able to acquire Facebook user data surreptitiously collected through a quiz app to target ads for the Trump campaign during the 2016 presidential election.

“Facebook failed to protect the privacy of its users and deceived them about who had access to their data and how it was used. Facebook put users at risk of manipulation by allowing companies like Cambridge Analytica and other third-party applications to collect personal data without users’ permission. Today’s lawsuit is about making Facebook live up to its promise to protect its users’ privacy.”

The aim of the suit, according to Racine's statement is to seek "monetary and injunctive relief, including relief for harmed consumers, damages, and penalties to the District".

A spokesperson for Facebook said in an email: “We’re reviewing the complaint and look forward to continuing our discussions with attorneys general in DC and elsewhere."