Payments are now being issued to millions of Facebook users as part of a $725 million settlement related to mishandling user data. The settlement addresses claims that Facebook improperly shared user information with third parties, notably following the Cambridge Analytica scandal, which involved the misuse of user data for political targeting during the 2016 election.
Involved in the settlement are U.S. users who accessed Facebook at any point from May 24, 2007, to December 22, 2022. To qualify, users needed to submit a claim by August 25, 2023. Those who did not meet the deadline will not receive a payout.
Settlement payments began distribution in late August and are continuing in waves over a 75-day period. Notifications about payment amounts and timing are sent via email three to four days before disbursement.
Regarding the payout amounts, the total settlement fund of $725 million will be divided among eligible users. A portion of the fund—$120,000—was allocated to eight lead plaintiffs, with over $180 million allocated for attorneys’ fees and nearly $4 million for other costs. After these expenses, approximately $541 million remains to be distributed among the rest of the eligible claimants.
While the exact individual payout varies based on the number of valid claims, users can expect only a small share of the total settlement amount.
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