How To Claim Your Facebook Settlement

By Corporal Punishment

If you were one of the millions of Facebook users whose data was harvested by Cambridge Analytica, you might be in line for some settlement money.

Facebook has faced several scandals involving its handling of user data over the years. Still, the most notorious was the Cambridge Analytica fiasco in 2018, where the political consulting firm accessed the personal information of 87 million Facebook users without their permission.

In December 2022, Facebook agreed to settle a class-action lawsuit regarding disseminating personal data to 3rd party groups and misleading the public about their privacy policy.

What does that mean for you?

United States Facebook users with an active account between May 2007 and December 2022 can now apply for a piece of the $725 million settlement related to the Cambridge Analytica scandal. How much that will be is still up in the air. Estimates range between $200 and $400 per account, depending on how many people file claims. That is a tiny fraction of what your data is worth to Facebook, whose profits are more than 20 billion annually - but it is something.

The real winners here are the lawyers, who will pocket north of 150 million in fees.

How do you get some of the Zuckerberg money?

For your consideration before starting: Right now, you are in the settlement, whether you knew it or not. If you do nothing, you are still in the settlement but will not receive any funds. If you opt-in, you will receive funds from the settlement but give up your right to sue. If you opt-out, you give up the settlement but can file suit against FaceBook personally.

There are important dates to consider. If you want to opt-out or object, you must submit that choice by July 25, 2023. By August 25, 2023, you must submit an application for funds. If you wish to opt-in You do all this at the Settlement Administrators' Website

You can either apply online or download a form to mail in. Online took about 2 minutes, and of course, it cost nothing.

Also of note, this is per person/account, not per household, and on August 26, you're out. So act accordingly, Geeks.

Oh -- and yes, this is real.