Minnesota Facebook Users Among Those To Receive Payments From $725M Privacy Settlement

Minnesota Facebook users could have a payout coming their way as part of a $725 million privacy settlement.

Millions of people — Americans with a Facebook account at any point over a 15-year period — were eligible to file a claim as part of class-action lawsuits. Those that filed by the 2023 deadline and were determined to be eligible can expect a check or direct-deposit payment in the coming months, according to the settlement's administrator.

The settlement follows suits alleging the world's largest social media platform provided personal data for millions of its users to Cambridge Analytica, a notorious British consulting firm tapped by Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign. In 2018, reporting revealed the firm paid a Facebook app developer to access information from 87 million users, sparking public outcry and Congressional hearings.

Eligible users were those who had an account at any time between May 24, 2007, and Dec. 22, 2022. But to receive a settlement, users were required to file a claim by a deadline two years ago.

A quarter of the settlement will be paid out to attorneys, leaving less than $550 million for the rest, the Los Angeles Times previously reported.

Eight plaintiffs — who represented all Facebook users in the case in court — will get $15,000 each, The Hill reported.

For those who filed claims, the payment amount is about $30, with the maximum payout rising to $38.36, CBS News reported, citing a court filing.

Each claimant receives a "point" for each month they had an activated Facebook account between May 24, 2007, and December 22, 2022. The administrator added up the points assigned to claimants and divided the net settlement amount by that number, according to the administrator.
Facebook started sending out settlement payments this month and will continue to distribute money to claimants over the next 10 weeks.

Those who have been approved for a payment will be notified via email from "Facebook User Privacy Settlement Administrator. The email address is donotreply@facebookuserprivacysettlement.com.
See more details about the settlement payments at the administrator's website.