What Is the Facebook Privacy Settlement Check?
The Facebook privacy settlement, settled for $725 million, received final approval on October 10, 2023.
This settlement addresses privacy concerns and compensates affected users. With payments set to begin in early January 2024, around 17 million users who filed claims by the August 25, 2023 deadline are expected to receive an average of $30 each.
This distribution marks a significant response to privacy issues faced by Facebook users.
What Was the Lawsuit About?
The lawsuit “In re: Facebook, Inc. Consumer Privacy User Profile Litigation, Case No. 3:18-md-02843-VC (N.D. Cal.)” against Facebook’s parent company, Meta, was a four-year legal struggle culminating in a $725 million settlement.
This settlement addressed allegations that Meta shared Facebook users’ private information with third-party companies, notably including the political consulting firm Cambridge Analytica.
Despite agreeing to the settlement, Meta maintains that it did not violate any laws.
Who Was Eligible for Facebook Payouts?
To qualify for a payout from the Facebook settlement, individuals needed to be Facebook users in the United States from May 24, 2007, to December 22, 2022.
Even if automatically eligible, these users had to submit a claim form to receive their share of the settlement.
How Much Will I Get?
On average, each eligible claimant is expected to receive about $30.
However, the actual amount may vary based on certain criteria:
- Users who maintained their Facebook accounts throughout the entire eligibility period stand to receive the most compensation.
- Those who deactivated or deleted their accounts before the end of the settlement period will still be compensated but might receive a smaller amount.
- Claimants who had multiple accounts over the eligibility period were advised to include this information in their claim to potentially increase their payout.
How Will I Be Paid?
Claimants eligible for the Facebook settlement can choose from several payment methods for their payouts.
These options include Zelle, a prepaid Mastercard, Venmo, PayPal, or opting for a traditional physical check.
This variety ensures flexibility for recipients to select the most convenient method for them to receive their share of the $725 million settlement.
Timeline for Important Dates and Receiving Payments
| Date | About | Explanation |
| July 26, 2023 | Deadline for Objections | Users had until this date to present any objections to the settlement’s terms directly to the court. |
| August 25, 2023 | Claim Form Submission Deadline | The final date for Facebook users to submit their Claim Forms to qualify for a settlement payment. |
| September 7, 2023 | Settlement Review Hearing | A court hearing took place to assess the settlement’s terms, hear objections, and decide on final approval. |
| October 10, 2023 | Final Approval by Court | The date when the court granted its final approval to the settlement. |
| January 2024 | Expected Payment Distribution | Settlement payments were anticipated to start being distributed around this time (approx. 90 days following court approval). |
FAQs
Why Is the Pay Amount so Low?
The final payout for each claimant in the Facebook class-action lawsuit is influenced by the total number of valid claims submitted.
U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria remarked that despite the payout being lower than some might have hoped, this was due to an extraordinarily high volume of claims, with about 17.7 million valid submissions from Facebook users (one of the highest in the history of U.S. class actions).
10 million more claims were also received but not considered, with 8 million suspected to be fraudulent and 2 million being duplicates, all before the August 25 deadline.
Thats why the Facebook Settlement pay is only $30 per person.
How Many People Have Been Rejected by the Facebook Settlement Check?
In the case of the Facebook privacy settlement worth $725 million, roughly 500,000 individuals received notifications of rejection.
These emails were sent out due to inaccuracies or inconsistencies found in the information provided by the users.
What Should I Do if My Claim Was Rejected?
For those whose claims against the Facebook privacy settlement were denied, there was a 10-day window to file an appeal before the settlement’s final approval date on October 10, 2023.
As of today, the opportunity to challenge a rejection has unfortunately passed.
When Will the Facebook Settlement Checks Be Mailed?
Facebook Settlement checks should have started being mailed in January 2024.
Why Haven’t I Received Payment Yet?
If you haven’t received your Facebook settlement payment yet, it could be due to the processing time or issues with your claim. Payments should have begun in early January 2024, but with a large number of claimants, distribution may take some time.
