Facebook users may now apply for their share of a $725 million privacy settlement that parent company Meta has agreed to pay.
The class action lawsuit was filed in 2018 after it was revealed that Cambridge Analytica, a firm with ties to Trump political strategist Steve Bannon, paid a Facebook app developer for access to the personal information of about 87 million users of the platform. That data was then used to target U.S. voters during the 2016 campaign.
Meta denied any liability or wrongdoing under the settlement. However, the agreement means that U.S. residents who used Facebook between May 24, 2007, and December 22, 2022, can file a monetary claim as long as they do so before August 25, 2023, according to the recently created class-action website.
Next steps
How do I file my claim?
Claim forms may be submitted online or printed and mailed to the Settlement Administrator at Facebook Consumer Privacy User Profile Litigation, c/o Settlement Administrator, 1650 Arch Street, Suite 2210, Philadelphia, PA 19103.
You may also contact the Settlement Administrator to request a claim form by telephone at 1-855-556-2233, by email [email protected], or by mail at Facebook Consumer Privacy User Profile Litigation, c/o Settlement Administrator, 1650 Arch Street, Suite 2210, Philadelphia, PA 19103.
What information must I provide?
The claim asks for basic information:
- Name
- Address
- Phone number
- If you lived in the U.S. between May 24, 2007, and December 22, 2022
- If you were a Facebook user between May 24, 2007, and December 22, 2022
- If you deleted your account in that period, the date range when you were a Facebook user
- Your Facebook username
- The payment service you prefer, such as PayPal, Venmo, or a prepaid Mastercard. If you want settlement funds to be deposited directly into your bank account, have your account number and bank routing numbers handy.
How long does it take to file my claim?
It only takes a few minutes to fill out the form.
How much money will I get?
It’s unclear how much money you’ll receive. The amount depends on how many people submit valid claims and how long you were a user on Facebook during the time period covered by the lawsuit.
When will I get the money?
Don’t expect payment until later this year at the earliest.
A final approval hearing is set for September 7. That’s when the court will decide whether to approve the deal and award attorneys’ fees and other costs. The website states that if the settlement is approved, the case could still be appealed.
“Settlement payments will be distributed as soon as possible if the court grants final approval of the settlement and after any appeals are resolved,” it notes.
Other options
Facebook users may opt out of the class action settlement to retain their right to sue individually or join another lawsuit.
Facebook users who do not opt-out are automatically part of the settlement.
“If you do nothing, you will not get a payment from this Settlement, and you will give up the right to sue, continue to sue, or be part of another lawsuit against the Defendant [Meta] related to the legal claims or factual allegations resolved by this Settlement,” the website states.
