US-based Facebook users can now claim a piece of the enormous settlement payment by Meta, Facebook's parent company, over the Cambridge Analytica scandal. This news follows Meta agreeing to pay $725 million in December 2022 to settle the longstanding class action lawsuit filed by Lauren Price in 2018.
Price accused the company of unlawful business practices concerning its use and distribution of users' personal data. Price was a Facebook user for eight years before the scandal happened. Her lawsuit asked for $500 million.
As part of the settlement, US Facebook users—those still active and those who have already deleted their accounts—will be compensated financially. CNN points potentially affected and eligible users to this claim form.
It takes only a few minutes to complete. Although the form asks for personal information, it clarifies that what users provide "will be processed only for purposes of effectuating the settlement."
Because of the amounts of money involved, and the personal information required to make a claim, readers are advised to be careful of imposter claim forms and websites asking for their details.
Furthermore, claimants are advised to whitelist the email address, [email protected], to ensure they receive future correspondence from the settlement administrator should they need to get in touch.
As to how much each claimant might get, it depends on the number of submitted valid claims and how long claimants were Facebook users.
"We pursued a settlement as it's in the best interest of our community and shareholders," said Dina Luce, Meta spokesperson, in a statement following the settlement agreement in December. "Over the last three years we revamped our approach to privacy and implemented a comprehensive privacy program. We look forward to continuing to build services people love and trust with privacy at the forefront."
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