Time is Running Out to File Claims for Facebook’s $725 Million Data Privacy Settlement
The clock is ticking for all individuals who have held a Facebook account in the United States over the past 16 years. With approximately one week left, the opportunity to seek compensation in a significant data privacy settlement case is rapidly drawing to a close.
In a notable resolution, Meta, the parent company of Facebook, agreed in December to pay a staggering $725 million to settle an array of class action lawsuits centred around privacy concerns. These lawsuits alleged, among other violations, that Facebook permitted third parties to access users’ private data and that of their friends without users’ consent.
One pivotal facet of the settlement pertains to the revelation that nearly 70 million US-based users’ private Facebook data was accessed by the political consulting entity Cambridge Analytica. This access occurred during their involvement in the 2016 Trump presidential campaign. The data accessed encompassed a range of information, from basic details such as birthdays and hometowns to more personal facets like private messages.
Here is a comprehensive overview of pertinent details for those contemplating filing a claim in this case:
Eligibility for Filing:
Individuals who held a Facebook account in the United States for any duration between May 24, 2007, and December 22, 2022, are eligible to submit a claim.
Filing Deadline:
Online claims must be submitted by 11:59 pm PT on Friday, August 25. For those opting for mail submissions, envelopes must be postmarked by August 25.
Compensation Calculation:
The payment amount hinges on three critical factors: 1) the number of valid claims received; 2) the duration of your active usage on Facebook between May 24, 2007, and December 22, 2022; and 3) the total net settlement fund following the deduction of administrative, legal, and other expenses.
As outlined by Meta, the settlement administrator will assign one point for each month of an active account during the specified timeframe. The total number of points assigned to valid claimants will be summed, and this cumulative number of points will be divided into the net settlement amount. This calculation will determine the payment for each month of active usage.
For illustrative purposes, consider a scenario where the net settlement amount is $100, and the total points sum to 500. In this case, each month of active usage would yield a payment of 20 cents ($100/500). If, for instance, an account remained active for 52 months, the payment would amount to $10.40 (20 cents x 52 months). For a full 187-month active period, the payment would reach $37.40.
Payment Timing:
While a specific date is not yet confirmed, the final approval hearing for the case’s settlement is scheduled for September 7 at 1 pm PT. Any appeals could potentially delay the distribution of settlement payments. According to the settlement’s FAQ sheet, payments will be distributed as swiftly as possible upon the Court granting Final Approval and resolution of any appeals.
Opt-Out and Legal Claims:
It’s vital to note that the deadline to opt-out of the settlement class and retain the right to sue Facebook has already passed on July 26. By participating in the settlement class and pursuing compensation, the ability to file individual lawsuits against Facebook for issues covered by the settlement will be forfeited.
With the window of opportunity closing, affected individuals are urged to act swiftly to secure their rightful compensation. The settlement agreement’s full details can be accessed on the dedicated Facebook user privacy settlement website.
