BuzzFeed $9 Million VPPA Settlement: Claims & Payout Dates

If you were a log-in account holder and/or digital newsletter subscriber to a BuzzFeed website and watched a video, you may be eligible to claim up to $8.00 and a one-year subscription to BuzzFeed+ from a class action settlement.

BuzzFeed, Inc. has agreed to pay $9,000,000 to settle a class action lawsuit for allegedly disclosing its subscribers’ personally identifiable information to Facebook without consent, violating the Video Privacy Protection Act (VPPA).

Who can file a claim?

To file a valid claim, you must meet the following criteria:

• You were a log-in account holder and/or digital newsletter subscriber to a BuzzFeed Website
• You accessed a video through a BuzzFeed Website while a pixel was operational as to video
• You accessed the video within the following dates on the following websites:
• buzzfeed.com: May 16, 2021 through July 24, 2023
• huffpost.com: May 16, 2021 through December 1, 2022
• tasty.com: May 16, 2021 through January 25, 2023
• complex.com: May 16, 2021 through March 2, 2023

How much can class members get?

Class members who file a valid claim can receive a cash payment of up to $8.00. Additionally, they are eligible for a one-year subscription to BuzzFeed+ valued at $35.88 per year with no subscription fee.

If the total value of all approved claims exceeds the funds available, the $8.00 cash payment may be reduced pro rata.

How to file a claim

To file a claim, you must have a Unique ID and password. If you do not have a Unique ID, you may enter your BuzzFeed account's email address into the Unique ID Lookup tool.

you can submit a claim form online or by mail. For mail submissions, send your completed form to:

BuzzFeed VPPA Settlement Administrator

P.O. Box 2753

Portland, OR 97208-2753

Payment methods

• Venmo
• PayPal
• Physical Check

$9,000,000 Settlement Fund Breakdown

The settlement fund of $9,000,000 will cover:

• Notice and settlement administration expenses.
• Up to $3,000,000 for attorneys’ fees, costs, and expenses.
• Up to $5,000 for a Service Award to the Class Representative.
• Cash payments to eligible class members.

Important dates

• Deadline to File a Claim: November 5, 2024
• Deadline to Exclude Yourself from the Settlement: October 14, 2024
• Final Approval Hearing: October 18, 2024

When is the BuzzFeed VPPA Settlement payout date?

The Court will hold a Final Approval Hearing on October 18, 2024. If the Settlement is approved, payments will be distributed to eligible class members after the appeals process is complete.

Why was there a class action settlement?

The lawsuit alleges that BuzzFeed violated the Video Privacy Protection Act by disclosing its subscribers’ personally identifiable information to Facebook without permission. BuzzFeed denies any wrongdoing but agreed to the settlement to avoid the uncertainties and expenses of ongoing litigation.