Facebook users can now claim their share of the $725 million privacy settlement. Here’s how

Facebook users with an account anytime from May 2007 through the end of last year can now apply for their share of the $725 million privacy settlement agreed to by the platform’s parent company, Meta, last December.

In a 2018 lawsuit, Facebook was accused of improperly sharing the personal information of 87 million users with third-party advertisers, including Cambridge Analytica, the data company linked to then-candidate Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign.

Meta disclaims any liability or wrongdoing, but does agree to pay the substantial settlement to users whose information may have been included during that time. ABC News Radio Anchor Michelle Franzen spoke to ABC News correspondent Alexis Christoforos I start here To discuss the background to the case and how people can apply for their claims online at facebookuserprivacysettlement.com.

Michelle Franzen: Alexis, first and foremost, focus on our collective memories of this lawsuit and how it affected Facebook users at the time.

Alexis Christophros: So, you know, Michelle, this was a few years ago now. This lawsuit was filed in 2018 after Facebook revealed that the information of 87 million users was improperly shared with third party advertisers, data brokers, specifically Cambridge Analytica. This is the political advisor used by the presidential campaign of Donald Trump, Senator Ted Cruz, and others. So in reaching this settlement, as you know, Meta, which is the parent company of Facebook, denies any liability or wrongdoing, but they do agree to pay $725 million to users whose information may have been compromised during that time.

Frank: So how much money can users receive and what do you need to do if you’re a Facebook user to see if you’re entitled to some kind of settlement money?

Christophoros: Well, I think we all hear $725 million with our ears perked up because that sounds like a lot of money. But the truth is, when you hand it out to millions and millions of people, there won’t be a lot of money anymore. So it’s still unknown how much money you might get from that claim, because it would depend on two things: how many people actually filed a claim and then how long you’ve had your Facebook account based on the years that, you know, makes you eligible.

So I think we should tell people that you only qualify if you had an active Facebook account sometime between May 2007 and December 2022. You don’t have to have it for all of that time, just for some of that time. You have until August 25th to file a claim. You can do it right on the Internet. You have to go to a website. that it facebookuserprivacysettlement.com. he is tall. You have to write it all down. Again, don’t expect super fast money. You must get final approval from a judge in early September. But sometime at the end of this year or next, your money should come to you.

Frank: That time period mentioned was in the heyday of Facebook, right?

Christophoros: It was like, I mean, you can imagine, you know, many, many millions of people, tens of millions of people. I mean, according to Facebook, the site’s 87 million users had their information improperly shared with these third parties. Millions of people can claim this money. So the more people try to claim it, the less money you will get. I mean, if all 87 million people tried to get a piece of the pie, you know, you’d probably walk away with about $8. But you know what, Michelle? That’s $8 you won’t get if you don’t claim. That’s how I look at it.

Frank: Exactly. This is what Twitter is asking for for a month.

Christopher: Exactly, exactly. So, you know, it’s also, I think the principle of the thing for a lot of people, they feel, you know, you can’t just use my information without my consent, and those are violations of privacy and so I want what’s coming to me.

Frank: And those privacy violations that led to the CEO and founder of Facebook and Meta, Mark Zuckerberg, having to go to Congress and testify.

Christopher: That’s right. This was exactly the media circus when Zuckerberg went before lawmakers to truly defend his company. But, you know, again, with this settlement, they don’t admit any wrongdoing, but it’s kind of their way, I think, to put a period on the end of this scandalous time for Facebook.

Frank: And Alexis, that’s a very large settlement, roughly the size of the $787.5 million that Fox News just agreed to settle in a lawsuit by Dominion Voting Systems. Of course, Dominion alleged that Fox knowingly pushed false claims about its voting machines during the 2020 election. What do these settlements signify as we move into the next general election?

Christophoros: Well, I think it tells us, you know, people are smarter this time around. I think they are more careful about their personal information and they are more discreet about how they allow other entities to use their personal information.

For companies like Meta, for companies like Fox, I mean, those seem like huge numbers, but when you look at the revenue that’s flowing into these companies, I imagine for them and their legal teams, they think that’s, you know, kind of the most prudent thing they could do He is settling for what seems like large sums of money.

But certainly, I mean, I think privacy and integrity, I mean, those are going to be things that are going to be top of mind for voters in the next election.