Facebook Privacy Settlement

Have you heard the news about the Facebook privacy settlement? Sometimes it’s hard to trust what we see online but, in this case, yes, it’s real. And yes, it involves real money. Shocked? Well, don’t quit your day job just yet.

First let’s take a closer look at what the privacy settlement really means for Facebook users and our privacy in the future. 

What is the Facebook Privacy Settlement?

Starting back in 2018 with the Cambridge Analytica scandal, Facebook (which is now officially known as Meta) was allowing third party apps to collect data on registered users and their friends without informed consent. The data was used for targeted political ads and other purposes that were unethical—or at the very least, questionable.

A few years later Facebook found itself a lawsuit examining how they handle user data. The result, one of the largest data privacy payouts in USA history, was a whopping $725 million settlement. It remains a touchstone moment for any individual who is concerned about their personal information and how it’s used online. 

Who Wins?

If you used Facebook in the U.S. between May 2007 and Dec 2022, you were likely eligible for a payout. No need to go digging for proof that your data was misused. All you need to have is evidence that you existed on the platform within the aforementioned period. 

To snag your share of the payout, you had to submit your claim form by August 2023. At this point your award could range from a few dollars to slightly more. This depends on the length of time you used Facebook and the number of people who also submitted claims to the lawsuit. 

Is There a Catch?

Aside from the lack of windfall to come with this kind of a “win” (truly don’t count on coming into a fortune here), this settlement is mostly just a win for accountability. Facebook/Meta isn’t admitting to wrongdoing and is resolving the case without liability, which is typical of many large scale corporate settlements. 

Know that, despite a $725 million price tag on this issue, user privacy on Facebook and other online platforms is, and will continue to be, a significant issue. These services collect massive amounts of personal data, which is valuable to them in a number of ways. Ultimately, users need to take their data ownership seriously and take steps to protect themselves. 

If you can’t quite cut ties with these social media platforms, consider using a Hushed second phone number to sign up. It’s an easy but powerful way to ensure your contact information stays safe. Remember that this revelation should be a wakeup call for anyone online: once your data is available to one company, there’s no telling where else it will go.