Affected individuals have the chance to get compensation for privacy infringement through the Facebook User Privacy Settlement.
There has been a huge change for Facebook users in the US. Facebook’s parent company, Meta, has agreed to pay $725 million to resolve privacy-related issues.
People who have used Facebook in the previous 16 years have the chance to claim a piece of the settlement money by making a claim through a special website.
This settlement resulted from a number of cases that users brought against Facebook, alleging that the business had inappropriately shared their personal information with third parties including marketers and data brokers.
The infamous Cambridge Analytica privacy incident in 2018, which involves the unauthorised scrape of user data for voter profiling purposes, served as the catalyst for these legal disputes.
The Facebook User Privacy Settlement intends to address complaints from people who feel that using the social media site violated their right to privacy. However, as part of this agreement, Meta has refuted any claims of fault or misconduct.
Users who meet the requirements can submit a claim to receive a piece of the settlement money as part of the Facebook User Privacy Settlement.
A claim for compensation may be made by Americans who utilised Facebook between May 24, 2007, and December 22, 2022.
Additionally, they must demonstrate both their Facebook usage throughout that time and their residency in the United States during the relevant period.
If someone deactivated their Facebook account within this time, they had to be clear about the dates they used it often.
Additionally, claimants are need to enter their Facebook identity and decide between PayPal, Venmo, or a prepaid Mastercard as their chosen payment method.
The claim form completion process is simple and should just take a few minutes.
Users can go to the Facebook website, check their account settings, and find the “Username” area to get their Facebook username.
Users using the mobile app can access their profile settings and look under the “Your Profile Link” section to retrieve their username.
The claim administrator is clear that those who have several Facebook accounts are eligible to submit claims for as long as they have active accounts.
However, if someone has many accounts open at once, they cannot make a separate claim for those extra accounts.
A big step in the right direction towards preserving and respecting users’ privacy is the Facebook User Privacy Settlement.
In the tragic case that a person passes away, a claim may still be made in their honour.
In the “Your Facebook Account” part of the claim form, the name and information of the dead individual should be used to submit the claim.
Claimants must submit a request and accompanying evidence, such as a copy of the death certificate, to the settlement administrator in order to change the name to the beneficiary or the estate of the claimant.
Through the website’s secure email interface, you can submit this request. Claimants may also mail the required paperwork to the specified address.
Meta has emphasised that the settlement is in the best interest of their community and shareholders, so confirming the legitimacy of the Facebook deal.
The amount of the compensation awarded to each user depends on how many claimants participate in the procedure, as stated on the settlement page.
It is significant to remember that the lawyers participating in the lawsuit can be compensated with up to 25% of the settlement. If this sum is granted, the claimants’ entire compensation will only get $543.7 million.
Because it will rely on the overall number of points allotted to claimants, it is still unknown how much money will be given to each claimant.
Between May 24, 2007, and December 22, 2022, one point will be added to the calculation for each month that Facebook was used actively.
The net settlement sum will be divided by the total points alloted to claimants by the settlement administrator, yielding a per-point sum.
A settlement sum equal to the per-point amount multiplied by the number of points allotted will be paid to each claimant.
The settlement’s final approval is anticipated on September 7. The arrangement, which takes into account legal fees and other expenses, will be evaluated by the court at this point.
If there are any appeals, the procedure can be protracted.
However, the distribution of settlement funds will start right away if the settlement is officially approved and any pending appeals are dismissed.
Users of Facebook have the choice to reject the settlement if they want to keep their ability to sue the business separately.
Users have until July 26 to send in an online or postal request to opt out.
Name, current address, signature, declaration that they want to be left out of the settlement, and Facebook account URL should all be included in the request.
Users will lose their right to start or continue a lawsuit over the legal problems raised in the case if they decide not to file a claim or opt out of the settlement.
Additionally, they won’t get any of the settlement money. The settlement contains a few exclusions.
Participants must not be employed by Meta, its parent company, affiliates, or subsidiaries, nor by the plaintiff’s lawyers or any of their staff members.
Additionally excluded are the judges, mediators, and special master who are all participating in the case.
Users now have an unparalleled chance to hold the social media behemoth accountable for privacy infractions thanks to the Facebook User Privacy Settlement.
This chance includes instances that took place throughout the previous 16 years.
It’s crucial to remember that only users in the United States are covered by the settlement.
The scope of the settlement excludes anyone residing outside of the United States.
Additionally, only Facebook users who used the service between May 24, 2007, and December 22, 2022 are covered by the settlement.
Participants in the settlement must have active Facebook accounts during the relevant time period to be eligible.