If you filed a claim in Facebook’s massive $725 million privacy settlement, your payout might be hitting your account soon. But don’t expect a jackpot.
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The class action stems from the Cambridge Analytica scandal, when Facebook (now Meta) was accused of mishandling user data between 2004 and 2022. While Meta denied wrongdoing, it agreed to the settlement to avoid a lengthy court battle.
How Much Are Users Getting?
After legal fees and costs were deducted, including $180 million in attorney fees and $120,000 for eight lead plaintiffs, roughly $541 million remains for users.
The final payouts depend on how long and how often you used Facebook during the period in question. Each month of usage counted as an “allocation point,” with a maximum of 188 points available. That formula translates to payments ranging between $4.89 and $38.36 per person.
When Will Payments Arrive?
The settlement website confirms that distribution has begun and will continue for 10 weeks. Claimants will receive an email update a few days before their payment is processed. Look out for:
- Subject line: “Facebook User Privacy Settlement — Settlement and Distribution Status Update”
- Sender: Facebook User Privacy Settlement Administrator ([email protected])
Payouts are being sent via direct deposit, PayPal, Venmo, Zelle, or prepaid card, depending on what users selected when filing.
This marks the conclusion of a case that began with Facebook’s entanglement in the 2018 Cambridge Analytica scandal, where user data was allegedly harvested for political targeting. The fallout reshaped the conversation around social media privacy and data rights, and now, years later, users are finally seeing their piece of the settlement.
And in case you’re wondering what it looks like in practice: Facebook gave my data to Cambridge Analytica and all I got was $34.69 via Venmo.
