Facebook $725M User Privacy Settlement: Payout Update

If you were a Facebook user in the United States between May 24, 2007, and December 22, 2022, you may be eligible to claim a cash payment from a class action settlement.

Meta Platforms, Inc., formerly known as Facebook, Inc., has agreed to pay $725,000,000 to settle a class action lawsuit for allegedly sharing user data with third parties without user consent and failing to monitor and enforce third-party access to this data.

Who is eligible for the Facebook Privacy Settlement?

The Settlement Class includes all Facebook users in the United States between May 24, 2007, and December 22, 2022.

How much is the Facebook Privacy Settlement payout per person?

The estimated average payout is $30 to each of the 18 million validated claims, according to the Appellee Facebook, Inc.'s Answering Brief which was filed on August 19, 2024.

Claiming a payout

To claim an award, class members must have submitted a claim form by the deadline. They could've file a claim online or download and mail the claim form to the settlement administrator.

Settlement Administrator's mailing address: Facebook Consumer Privacy User Profile Litigation, c/o Settlement Administrator, 1650 Arch Street, Suite 2210, Philadelphia, PA 19103

Payout options

Class members could choose:

• Check
• Electronic transfer

$725 Million settlement fund

The settlement fund of $725,000,000 will cover:

• Settlement administration costs: TBD
• Attorneys' fees: $181,250,000 (25% of the settlement fund)
• Attorneys' expenses: $4,101,608.09
• Service awards to class representatives: $120,000 total
• Payments to class members: Remaining balance

Important dates

• Deadline to File a Claim: August 25, 2023
• Final Approval Hearing: September 7, 2023

When is the Facebook Privacy Settlement payout date?

The settlement awaits resolution of appeals. A hearing on the appeals is scheduled for February 7, 2025.

Hypothetical payout timeline:

• Assuming appeals are resolved by February 14, 2025
• the Effective Date is 7 days after Final Judgement becomes final [1]
• 7 days after February 14, 2025 is February 21

• Payments begin 90 days after the Effective Date [2]
• 90 days after February 21, 2025 is May 22nd

• Completion of payments by 165 days after the Effective Date [2]
• 165 days after February 21, 2025 is August 5th

So, if the appeals are resolved and the settlement becomes final on February 14, 2025, your payout date will be between February 21 and August 5, 2025.

Why is there a class action settlement?

The lawsuit alleges that Facebook shared user data with third parties without consent and failed to monitor third-party access, leading to privacy violations. The settlement avoids the costs and risks of a trial.

The lawsuit is known as _In re: Facebook, Inc. Consumer Privacy User Profile Litigation_, Case No. 3:18-md-02843-VC (N.D. Cal.)

1] [Settlement Agreement

2] [Final Approval Order