Facebook privacy settlement is real, how to claim your share

Facebook users can submit a claim for a share of the $725 million class action settlement of a lawsuit over the Cambridge Analytica scandal. Here's how to get your share.

In 2018, it was discovered that Facebook had given Cambridge Analytica, a UK political consulting firm, access to considerable data from as many as 87 million users. This led to the class action lawsuit.

The data was purportedly used in 2016 for voter profiling and targeting on behalf of various campaigns by Cambridge Analytica, which has since discontinued operations.

Facebook owner Meta agreed in December to pay $725 million to settle the charges of improperly using customer data without permission. It's now possible to claim a share of the settlement to receive a cash payout.

According to the settlement website, people in the US who used Facebook between May 24, 2007, and December 22, 2022, may be eligible to receive a payment. Facebook users have until August 25 to enter a claim by entering their name, address, email address, and proof that they resided in the US and used Facebook between the two dates.

Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg was required to testify before Congress over the incident and publish ads in which he apologized for the breach. Apple CEO Tim Cook publicly commented in 2018 and criticized Facebook for mishandling user data.

"I think the best regulation is no regulation, is self-regulation," he said in answer to a question posed about Facebook. "However, I think we're beyond that here."

6 Comments

mystigo 16 Years · 183 comments

About 1 year ago

"According to the settlement website, people in the US who used Facebook between May 24, 2007, and December 22, 2022, may be eligible to receive a payment. Facebook users have until August 25 to enter a claim by entering their name, address, email address, and proof that they resided in the US and used Facebook between the two dates."

This reads like you have to prove that you used Facebook between the specified dates. It looks like all you had to have was an active username / account between those two dates.

rob53 13 Years · 3312 comments

Looks like an April Fool's joke. Why would I want to claim a couple dollars by giving them personal information? Isn't that what Cambridge Analytica already has? Facebook already knows who used Facebook between those dates along with all their personal information. Facebook simply needs to send every Facebook user a secure link to get the money. Of course, this would still validate all the personal information Facebook already has.

UncleTrick 2 Years · 5 comments

rob53 said:

Looks like an April Fool's joke. Why would I want to claim a couple dollars by giving them personal information? Isn't that what Cambridge Analytica already has? Facebook already knows who used Facebook between those dates along with all their personal information. Facebook simply needs to send every Facebook user a secure link to get the money. Of course, this would still validate all the personal information Facebook already has.

As you said, they already have it. I know it's only a few bucks for me individually (and everyone else), but I want to see FB pay every penny of that settlement, so the more people that claim a piece, the better.

lkrupp 19 Years · 10521 comments

rob53 said:

Looks like an April Fool's joke. Why would I want to claim a couple dollars by giving them personal information? Isn't that what Cambridge Analytica already has? Facebook already knows who used Facebook between those dates along with all their personal information. Facebook simply needs to send every Facebook user a secure link to get the money. Of course, this would still validate all the personal information Facebook already has.

Well, the state of Illinois sued them for the same issue and last year I got a check from Facebook for about $400. You had to be an Illinois resident of course.