Facebook, now known as Meta, has paid $720 million to settle a class-action lawsuit over the Cambridge Analytica data scandal in 2018. Because of this, millions of Facebook users’ data were harvested without their consent. This data was later used to create targeted political ads for various campaigns, including the 2016 U.S. presidential election and the Brexit referendum. The political consulting firm Cambridge Analytica was accused of misusing the personal data of millions of Facebook users. This data was used to create psychological profiles of voters and influence their political choices in various elections.
This involved several unauthorised accesses and uses of Facebook user data by third parties for political purposes. The company initially denied the wrongdoing or legal violation, but the company later agreed to settle to avoid the cost and risk of a trial. This was heavily criticised, and several lawsuits were filed against Meta (formerly Facebook) for privacy outrage and regulatory scrutiny. The data analytics firm was also accused of working with the Trump campaign. After four years since 2018, it remains one of the highest-profile data-privacy scandals of the legal fight following the international outcry over the company’s disclosure that almost 87 million Facebook users were obtained by the firm Cambridge Analytica.
Since they failed to protect users’ data and allowed third-party companies to access and use them without transparency, Meta has made several changes, changed its data privacy practice, and resolved to better protect users’ data from being abused in the future. Cambridge Analytica is one of the companies that used the data to create political ads that influenced voters. Meta didn’t admit any guilt or liability in the settlement or claim, but they claim they have improved their data privacy practices after the scandal over the last three years.
Claim your Facebook users’ privacy settlement
So all active Facebook users between May 2007 and December 2022 can claim their privacy settlement before August 25th of this year. Users should be in the U.S. and active during that session to claim the Facebook Users’ Privacy Settlement from their website. Last year, in December, Meta confirmed they would be proceeding to pay $725 million to settle this case, including users whose data was exposed and exploited by Cambridge Analytica and other third parties.
To get their settlement, users are required to provide their personal and account information, including their name, address, phone number, and details about their Facebook account. After submitting their personal information, users can choose a payment option, which includes electronic transfer, or a prepaid card, which includes PayPal, Venmo, Zelle, or any Prepaid MasterCard. Users will receive no fixed amount; instead, it depends on various factors like the number of claims submitted and the duration of Facebook’s even period.
How to Claim the Cambridge Analytica Settlement by Meta
It’s pretty straightforward. All you have to do to file a claim with Meta is head over to the Facebook Settlement Website and submit the required information.
Once you have filled out all the required fields, click the “Submit Claim” button. That’s it! At first glance, it may seem pretty complicated, but it’s relatively straightforward with the on-screen instructions they ask you to submit.
You can also use mail to submit a completed print form to the following address: Please ensure that it is postmarked or submitted by August 25th, 2023, at 11:59 PM PT.
- Facebook Consumer Privacy and User Profile Litigation
- C/o Settlement Administrator
- 1650 Arch Street, Suite 2210
- Philadelphia, PA 19103
Note: It is recommended that users whitelist the email address confirmation@facebookuserprivacysettlement.com so they don’t miss future correspondence from the settlement administration. Through this email, they will contact the users who claimed.
Users actively using Facebook between May 24th, 2007 and December 22nd, 2022, are eligible for the class settlement. However, users who want to retain the right to pursue litigation against Meta separately can request to opt out of the settlement by July 26th, 2023.
The final approval hearing is scheduled for September 7th, 2023, and if any distribution occurs, the company will delay the process. The Federal Judge gave the agreement preliminary approval at the end of March and will have final approval on September 7th. This issue has been testified before Congress over the incident and published ads in which Facebook Founder Mark Zuckerberg has apologised for the breach. Apple CEO Tim Cook also commented publicly in 2018, criticising Facebook for mishandling users’ data.
It’s still unknown, but the amount rolled out by Meta (formerly Facebook) will be small for the more than 200 million people involved. They can apply to claim this small portion of Facebook users’ privacy settlement before the deadline. Users can also opt out of this by the end of July 26th, 2023, if they don’t want money, and they can even sue Meta. But people who claim their settlement don’t later have any right to sue Meta individually or join another lawsuit.