If you use Facebook anytime between 2007 and 2022, there is good news: the long-published privacy settlement payment has finally been sent out. You might have seen headlines about the deal a few years ago, but delays, appeals and legal delays have put things in a strait. Now, millions of claimants will be notified and paid after the court has approved and completed the lawsuit. It is crucial to know if you are eligible, how much you may receive and when, so you won’t miss it. Let’s break down the details so you won’t be surprised by your inbox or lack of it.
Who is eligible for a settlement
To be eligible, you need to have a US Facebook account any time between May 24, 2007 and December 22, 2022. The deadline for filing a claim is August 25, 2023, so if you haven’t filed your claim by then you may miss the opportunity. About 28 million users filed valid claims, one of the largest privacy class action spending in U.S. history. Even the account deleted during this period may be eligible if a claim is filed.
How much can you expect
Don’t expect life-changing check–for most people, it’s a big number. The settlement fund is $725 million, but after attorney fees, administrative expenses and allocated to millions of claimants, the available amount per person is relatively small. The average payment is about $29.43, while the maximum payment for users with an account throughout the eligible period is about $38.36. Less active or shorter account holders will receive a lower amount. The exact sum you get depends on how long your account activity is in the Qualification window.
When paying
Payments will be launched in early September 2025 and will continue in batches within about 10 weeks. If your claim is approved, you should receive an email from the Facebook User Privacy Settlement Administrator before payment – 3-4 days in advance. Payment options include PayPal, Venmo, Zelle, Direct Deposit, Prepaid Mastercard or Paper Check, depending on the option you choose when you file your claim. If you haven’t notified yet, keep an eye on the spam folder and any address you have registered on Facebook.
Behind the settlement
The payment does not acknowledge Facebook’s (now dollar) misconduct, but instead addresses the payment claim that it makes user data improper. The lawsuits aim to accuse Facebook of sharing improper personal data with third-party advertisers and having no control over access, especially in connection with the Cambridge Analytica scandal. Meta agrees to the solution, in part to avoid the costs and risks of long-term litigation. Legal personnel negotiated a large swimming pool that included things lost by users or estimated privacy hazards. If nothing else, it is a broad focus on how Facebook handles user data during this period.
Things you need to do (or check)
First, check out a message in your email titled “Facebook User Privacy Settlement Administrator”, which is how the approved claimant receives notifications. Make sure your preferred method of receiving payments (such as PayPal, Venmo, Direct Deposit or Check) is up to date. The claim deadline has passed, so if you did not file a claim before August 2023, you may not be eligible. Also, verify your period of use of Facebook – the number of months active in the qualified window directly affects the number of you getting. Remember that spending is proportional to your time on Facebook, not the flat fee for everyone.
What does this settlement mean to consumers
This is not a huge surprise for most people, but it is important. It acknowledges that millions of impacts are affected by privacy failures and suggests that class action lawsuits can lead to real compensation. For those who qualify, remind people to be aware of long-term online data practices rather than assuming that large technologies will always protect your information. Even a small amount shows accountability. Moreover, this settlement may prompt companies to be more transparent about how they store, share and protect user data in the future.
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