Facebook users in the United States who used the platform between May 2007 and December 2022 are eligible to apply for a share of a $725 million settlement that Facebook's parent company, Meta, agreed to pay to settle a class-action lawsuit. To apply, users can visit the claims website, link: facebookuserprivacysettlement.com, and provide their information to receive payment through their bank account or Venmo. The size of payouts is expected to be small and will depend on the length of time each applicant was a Facebook user during the affected period and the number of people who submit valid claims.
The lawsuit accused Facebook of sharing user data, including with Cambridge Analytica, without user permission and without monitoring third-party access or use of that data. The settlement sends a message to Facebook and other companies to take user privacy seriously and be held accountable for any breaches of that privacy. The claims website will assign one point for each month in which an applicant had an activated Facebook account, with more points given to those who used the site longer. The final hearing to approve the settlement is set for September 7 in the US District Court for the Northern District of California.
It is important to note that anyone who had a U.S. Facebook account between May 2007 and December 2022 is eligible to apply for the settlement, regardless of whether they were affected by the data leak or not. However, the payouts are expected to be small, and it may not be worth the effort for some users to submit a claim. Additionally, it is important to be cautious when submitting personal information to any website and to ensure that the claims website is legitimate before providing any sensitive information.
In terms of the future implications of the settlement, it sends a message to Facebook and other companies that they must take user privacy seriously and be held accountable for any breaches of that privacy. It also serves as a reminder to Facebook users to be cautious with their personal information and to be aware of the risks associated with using social media platforms.