Facebook users can now claim settlement money: Here’s how.

Today marks the final opportunity for anyone in the United States who has used Facebook over the past 16 years to participate in a $725 million settlement tied to privacy violations by the social media giant's parent company, Meta.

This substantial settlement is the outcome of several lawsuits brought against Facebook by users who alleged that the company inappropriately shared their personal information with third-party entities like advertisers and data brokers. These legal actions took root in the aftermath of Facebook's 2018 privacy scandal involving Cambridge Analytica, a firm that extracted user data from the platform to build voter profiles.

Notably, Meta has not admitted to any wrongdoing or liability concerning this settlement. According to the class-action website established to distribute the settlement funds, Meta has consistently maintained this position.

However, individuals residing in the United States who actively used Facebook between May 24, 2007, and December 22, 2022, have the opportunity to file an online monetary claim, provided they do so before the deadline, which expires at 11:59 p.m. Pacific time on Friday, August 25. Those opting for U.S. mail submissions must ensure that their letters are postmarked by August 25.

To initiate the claim process, individuals can visit the claim website and complete the necessary form. Alternatively, they can print the form and send it to the specified address:

Facebook Consumer Privacy User Profile Litigation

c/o Settlement Administrator

1650 Arch Street, Suite 2210

Philadelphia, PA 19103

The required information for the claim includes:

• Full name
• Address
• Email address
• Phone number
• U.S. residency during the specified period
• Facebook usage between May 24, 2007, and December 22, 2022
• If the Facebook account was deleted during that period, the date range of account usage
• Facebook username
• Preferred payment service (e.g., PayPal, Venmo, or a prepaid Mastercard)

Completing the form should take only a few minutes. To locate their Facebook username, users can navigate to the "Account" section on Facebook's website, click on "Settings and Privacy," and then select "Settings," where they should find the "Username" option. On the mobile app, users can access this information by going to the menu, clicking on their display name at the top of the screen, selecting "..." next to "Edit Profile," and locating their username under "Your Profile Link."

Meta confirms the legitimacy of the Facebook settlement, emphasizing that it is notifying users about the settlement via Facebook notifications, allowing them to decide whether to participate.

However, the claim settlement administrator issues a cautionary note, advising individuals to remain vigilant against requests for personal information such as Social Security numbers, as such requests are never made by the administrator. Furthermore, requests for payment to access the settlement funds should be treated with suspicion, as they may be fraudulent.

Users who wish to update their claims can do so by visiting the settlement website and clicking on "Filed a claim? Click here to edit your claim," located at the top of the page. To facilitate updates for electronically submitted claims, individuals can email [email protected]. For claims submitted via mail, updates, including name and contact information changes, can be mailed to the following address:

Facebook Consumer Privacy User Profile Litigation

c/o Settlement Administrator

1650 Arch Street, Suite 2210

Philadelphia, PA 19103

Regarding the claim of multiple Facebook accounts, users who created and deleted one or more accounts, then later created a new one, can claim for the entire duration of their activated Facebook account during the specified timeframe. However, individuals who maintained multiple accounts simultaneously cannot claim for these additional accounts to avoid double-counting, as stated by the claim administrator.

The exact amount of money each claimant will receive remains uncertain, as it depends on the number of claims submitted, according to the settlement website. However, it's worth noting that attorneys involved in the case may be entitled to a portion of the settlement as part of their fees, potentially up to 25% or $181.3 million. If the attorneys receive this percentage, the settlement amount available to Facebook users who file claims would be reduced to $543.7 million. Each claimant will accrue one point for every month they maintained an "activated" Facebook account between May 24, 2007, and December 22, 2022. The settlement administrator will calculate the total points for all claimants and divide the net settlement amount by that figure. Each claimant will then receive their per-point amount multiplied by the number of points they have accrued, meaning individuals with shorter periods of Facebook usage will likely receive lower settlement amounts.

The distribution of settlement funds is not expected until later this year, at the earliest. The settlement website states that a final approval hearing is scheduled for September 7, during which the court will determine whether to approve the settlement and allocate attorney fees and other costs. If approved, the settlement may still face appeals, the duration of which remains uncertain. Consequently, the website notes that "settlement payments will be distributed as soon as possible if the court grants final approval of the settlement and after any appeals are resolved."

While Facebook users initially had the option to opt out of the settlement, the deadline for doing so passed on July 26. One reason for opting out could be to retain the ability to separately file a lawsuit against the company regarding the issues and allegations covered by the settlement, as explained on the settlement website.

The deadline for filing an objection to the Facebook settlement also passed on July 26. Users had the opportunity to present reasons to the court as to why the settlement should not receive approval. However, they could not request alternative remedies through this objection process; the court's decision would be limited to either approving or rejecting the settlement. If the settlement were rejected, no payments would be made, and the lawsuit would continue.

Individuals who neither filed a claim nor opted out of the settlement relinquish their right to initiate a lawsuit, continue existing legal actions, or participate in any other litigation related to Facebook concerning the legal issues addressed in the settlement. Furthermore, they would not receive any portion of the settlement funds.

Excluded from the settlement are individuals employed by Meta, its affiliated companies or subsidiaries, as well as attorneys for the plaintiffs and their staff. The special master, mediators, and judges involved in the case are also ineligible to participate. The settlement does not encompass users outside the U.S. or individuals who were not Facebook users at any point between May 24, 2007, and December 22, 2022.