Facebook users could be due payment if they used the site in past 16 years

19 April 2023 , 19:51

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Millions of Facebook users could be elligible (Image: AFP via Getty Images)

Anyone who has used Facebook in the last fifteen years could be in for a pay out from the social media giant.

Parent company Meta is being forced to shell out a total of $725million (£582m) to any users who had a Facebook account between May 24, 2007 and December 22, 2022.

This follows a major lawsuit which claimed that the company shared data about users and their friends with third parties—without permission.

While Meta has admitted no wrongdoing, it has been ordered by a court to pay out compensation to users in the US.

Claimants have until August 25, 2023 to submit a claim to a share of the payout, although as it involves millions of users it likely won't be a lot of money.

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Facebook co-founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg (Getty Images)

To be eligible you have to have been living in the US during that time and been a Facebook user. You'll be asked to provide your Facebook username as well as the phone number linked to your account.

The lawsuit claimed that Meta misused the data of tens of millions of Facebook accounts.

This was linked to the Cambridge Analytica scandal, a company which "may have collected the personal information of as many as 87 million Facebook users" according to lawyers at Keller Rohrback.

This data was allegedly used by the Trump and Brexit campaigns to influence elections and political campaigns in 2016.

Keller Rohrback lawyers claimed: "Facebook has allegedly known about Cambridge Analytica's improper data collection since 2015 and failed to take action to stop the activity or notify users until March 2018."

The company also added that the settlement "was in the best interest of our community and shareholders."

Meta said the settlement 'was in the best interest of our community and shareholders' (AFP via Getty Images)

Nt all of the $725million will go to those who were affected, as the money will also be used to cover the costs of administration and legal fees.

The claim form asks you to provide personal details such as your name, Facebook username, address, phone number, country, and email address - you are also asked to choose the payment method you want your claim money to be paid.

You can also choose to opt out of the settlement if you want to sue Facebook yourself, or you can object to the settlement.

You must do either of those things by July 26, 2023.

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The lawsuit was first filed in 2019 and a settlement was reached in December 2022.

At the time Meta said in a statement: "Over the last three years we revamped our approach to privacy and implemented a comprehensive privacy program".

They said the cash settlement was "in the best interest of our community and shareholders".

Charlie Jones