Deadline this month to apply for part of $725 million Facebook settlement: How to apply

Deadline this month to apply for part of $725 million Facebook settlement: How to apply

The deadline to apply for part of a $725 million settlement involving Facebook’s parent company Meta is this month.

Meta has agreed to pay $725 million to help settle suits related to the 2018 Cambridge Analytica scandal involving allegations the company allowed users personal data to be collected by third party companies without their consent. Meta denies the allegations.

Facebook users can now submit their claim information. The final payment amounts haven’t been determined but will depend on how much attorneys receive, how many users file and how long you’ve been on Facebook.

What to know about the settlement

The settlement covers anyone in the U.S. who had an account on the social media network between May 24, 2007 to Dec. 22, 2022. Each person can only file one claim, even if they have multiple Facebook accounts.

You can file by filing out an online form or downloading the online form and mailing it to Facebook Consumer Privacy User Profile Litigation, c/o Settlement Administrator, 1650 Arch Street, Suite 2210, Philadelphia, PA 19103.

The deadline to apply is Aug. 25.

Applicants will need to provide:

  • Name
  • Address
  • Email
  • Phone number
  • Confirm they resided in U.S. between May 24, 2007 and Dec. 22, 2022
  • If they were a Facebook user between May 24, 2007 and Dec. 22, 2022
  • If they have deleted their account, the date range when the account was active
  • Facebook user name
  • The payment service they prefer, such as PayPal, Zelle, Venmo or a prepaid Mastercard

There is a final hearing on the settlement on Sept. 7. If approved, and barring no appeals, money from the settlement could follow shortly after. According to the Los Angeles Times, the proposed settlement would give 25% of the fund to the plaintiffs’ attorneys for legal fees, plus an unspecified amount for legal expenses. That will leave less than $544 million to be split among those who file a claim.