Who Can Apply for a Share of the Facebook Lawsuit Settlement?

If you had a Facebook account from May 2007 to December 2022, Facebook’s parent company, Meta, may owe you some money. Millions of users are eligible to claim a share of the Facebook lawsuit settlement, but the application deadline is approaching fast.

Facebook User Privacy Lawsuit

Meta agreed to pay $725 million to settle a class-action lawsuit that claimed the company improperly shared user information with Cambridge Analytica, a data analytics firm. According to the plaintiffs’ lawyers in a court filing

, it is the largest recovery ever in a data privacy class action and the most Facebook has paid to settle a private class action.

Cambridge Analytica allegedly paid Facebook developers for user data in 2018, and it was used to target voters in the 2016 election, according to NPR. However, Meta didn’t admit wrongdoing as part of the settlement. The settlement is meant to resolve claims by Facebook users that the company violated both federal and state laws by allowing app developers and business partners to harvest personal data without consent, Reuters noted.

“This historic settlement will provide meaningful relief to the class in this complex and novel privacy case,” the lead lawyers for the plaintiffs, Derek Loeser and Lesley Weaver, said in a statement.

How Many Facebook Users Can Make a Claim?

Anyone in the United States who used Facebook in the last 16 years can likely claim money in the Facebook settlement. If you were a Facebook user in the U.S. at any point between May 24, 2007, and December 22, 2022, you are almost certainly eligible to file a claim.

Cambridge Analytica allegedly accessed about 87 million users’ personal information. However, 250 million to 280 million people are potentially eligible to claim a part of this settlement, according to court filings.

How to Apply for the Facebook Settlement

If you are eligible to claim part of the Facebook settlement, you must file your claim before August 25, 2023.

To fill out your claim for the Facebook lawsuit, go to the claim website and fill out the form there. It asks for your name, address, email, and phone number, and for other information such as whether you resided in the U.S. between May 24, 2007, and December 22, 2022, and if you were a Facebook user during that time period. 

The form also asks if you deleted your account in that period and the date range when you were a Facebook user. Specifically, it asks if you are, “filing a claim for a current account, a deleted account, or a combination of both?” You’ll also need to provide your Facebook user name and which payment service you prefer for receiving your funds, including PayPal, Venmo, or a prepaid Mastercard.

You can also choose to print out the claim and mail it to the following address: Facebook Consumer Privacy User Profile Litigation, c/o Settlement Administrator, 1650 Arch Street, Suite 2210, Philadelphia, PA 19103.

Applying on Behalf of a Deceased Loved One

You can also apply on behalf of a loved one who had a Facebook account but has passed away, according to the settlement website FAQs. In that case, you’ll have to file the claim under the name of the deceased person and fill out their details in the “Your Facebook Account” section of the claim form, rather than your own. 

“For security reasons, you must provide us with a request to change the name to the beneficiary or estate of the claimant and documentation demonstrating the reason for a name change, such as a copy of the death certificate, probate documents, will, or other related documentation,” the site FAQs reveal. “Please send an email using our secure portal with an explanation of the reason for your name change request and attach documentation that supports the change.”

You can use the portal to send an email to administrative@angeiongroup.com with the subject line “Name Change –Facebook User Privacy Settlement.” Be sure to include the full name of the deceased claimant and the claim ID from the claim confirmation email when sending your documentation. 

Alternatively, you can send documentation to: Facebook User Privacy Settlement, Attn: Name Change, 1650 Arch Street, Suite 2210, Philadelphia, PA 19103.

Reach Out to Phillips Law Group

If you have social media lawsuit questions, please contact Phillips Law Group to discuss your situation and learn more about your options. Our attorneys are skilled in navigating the personal injury field, and we may be able to help you or a loved one with issues like legal claims for social media addiction (SMA).

Call us to learn more about how Phillips Law Group may be able to help you with a free evaluation of your personal situation.