No one wants their personal data to be shared. Usually, a platform claims that they will not share the users’ information, but sometimes the users’ information is spread to a third party and users do not know how it can happen whether it is shared by the platform on purpose or stolen by the third party. This data sharing issue happened to Facebook users where there were U.S. users who claimed that their data were shared by the Facebook company with third-party sources such as data brokers and advertisers.
Because of this issue, Facebook users, who used the platform in the last 15 years, can collect a piece of a $725 million settlement. They can get it by filling out a claim on a website created to pay out money to the users. When will it be paid?
Until now, there is no information about when the Facebook class action lawsuit will be paid. However, cited from CBS News, it is not until later this year at the earliest. So, U.S. residents who used Facebook between May 24th, 2007, and December 22nd, 2022 are able to file monetary claims where the deadline is on August 25th, 2023. In the website of the claim, it is noted that on September 7th, 2023 there will be a final approval hearing for the settlement. On the claim site, it is also noted that the payments of settlement will be paid out as soon as possible if the court grants final approval of the settlement and after any appeals are resolved.
To claim it, the users can access the claim website and fill out the claim there. Alternatively, they can print out the claim and then mail it to:
Facebook Consumer Privacy User Profile Litigation,
c/o Settlement Administrator
1650 Arch Street, Suite 2210
Philadelphia, PA 19103
When you claim it, you have to provide your information including your name; address; email; phone number; if you lived in the U.S. between May 24th, 2007, and December 22nd, 2022; the user name of your Facebook; if you were a user of Facebook between May 24th, 2007, and December 22nd, 2022; if you removed your account in that period, the range of the date when you were a user of Facebook; and the payment service that you want to use for the payout.
How much money will the users get? It is still unknown, but according to the settlement website, the settlement amount per user will depend on the number of people who fill out the claim. On CBS News, it is also explained that every user who claims it will get one point for every month when they had a Facebook account which was activated between May 24th, 2007, and December 22, 2022. The point is that claimants who used Facebook longer will get a higher settlement amount.
Meanwhile, even though Meta has agreed to the settlement, Meta denied any liability or wrongdoing under the settlement. The company said to Nexstar that they pursued a settlement as it’s in the best interest of their community and shareholders.
A bookworm and researcher especially related to law and citizenship education. I spend time every day in front of the internet and the campus library.
