(CNN) — Fb customers who filed a declare in father or mother firm Meta’s $725 million settlement associated to the Cambridge Analytica scandal might quickly get a cost.
It’s been over two years since Fb customers have been in a position to file claims in Meta’s December 2022 settlement. The category-action lawsuit started after the social media large mentioned in 2018 that as many as 87 million Fb customers’ personal info was obtained by information analytics agency Cambridge Analytica, which had labored with President Donald Trump’s 2016 marketing campaign.
Meta was accused of permitting Cambridge Analytica and different third events, together with builders, advertisers and information brokers, to entry personal details about Fb customers. The social media large was additionally accused of insufficiently managing third-party entry to and use of consumer information.
Right here’s what it’s worthwhile to know concerning the settlement funds.
Who was eligible?
Any US Fb consumer who had an energetic account between Could 24, 2007, and December 22, 2022, was eligible to file a declare, even when they’ve deleted the account.
The deadline to file was August 25, 2023. Nearly 29 million claims have been filed and about 18 million have been validated as of September 2023, in accordance with Meta’s response in a 2024 authorized doc.
Based on the settlement website, funds can be decided by whether or not a declare was legitimate and “how long you were a user on Facebook” between Could 24, 2007, and December 22, 2022. Those that didn’t file a declare are ineligible to obtain a cost.
What occurred after the deadline?
Two appeals have been filed after the settlement that weren’t resolved till Could 14, 2025, in accordance with the settlement website.
The settlement was finalized on Could 22, 2025, and on August 27, the courtroom ordered that settlement advantages be distributed.
“The distribution of settlement benefits has commenced and will continue for approximately 10 weeks. We thank you in advance for your patience,” in accordance with the positioning’s September 3 replace.
Was my declare accredited?
How a lot will I obtain?
Of the $725 million settlement fund, roughly $540 million will cowl accredited settlement claims.
Based on the settlement plan, a system of “allocation points” will decide funds. One allocation level is assigned for every calendar month an individual had a Fb account between Could 24, 2007, and December 22, 2022.
“Class members who were active on Facebook longer, and who therefore may have more valuable claims, will receive a larger share of the settlement,” Meta mentioned within the 2024 authorized doc. One consumer mentioned they acquired $35.91 by means of Venmo.
Initially Printed: September 15, 2025 at 11:53 AM PDT
