Facebook $725M Privacy Settlement Payments: The start of this settlement is a class-action lawsuit that leveled the accusation that Facebook mishandled user data by sharing user’s personal information with third parties such as advertisers, data brokers, and app developers without proper oversight or sufficient user consent. Part of the allegations that received a lot of media attention was the Cambridge Analytica scandal. Meta, the parent company of Facebook, has not admitted that it did something wrong but has accepted to settle so as not to have to go through the whole process.
Facebook $725M Privacy Settlement Payments: Who’s Eligible?
In case you are a U.S. resident and you had an active Facebook account at any time between the 24th of May 2007 and the 22nd of December 2022, then you were eligible to file a claim. Also, people whose accounts are now deleted or inactive, that is to say, as long as the account was active at some point during that time, are included.
To receive a payout, one needed to submit a claim by August 25, 2023 (either online or by mail, with the mailed form being postmarked by that deadline). No new claims can be submitted now.
How the Payment Amount is Determined?
Each claimant’s payment depends on:
1. How long they had a Facebook account during the eligible period. Each month of active account use between May 2007 and December 2022 gives you what’s called one “allocation point.”
2. How many people filed valid claims. The more claimants, the more points are claimed in aggregate, which divides the available money into smaller shares per point.
3. After subtracting legal fees, administration costs, and payouts to named plaintiffs, the remainder of the settlement fund is what’s distributed among claimants.
La OCU (@consumidores) captó a 47.000 usuarios con el reclamo de que exigiría a Facebook indemnizaciones de 200€ por irregularidades al tratar sus datos. Luego alcanzó un acuerdo económico con la multinacional y los afectados no vieron ni un céntimo.
📺 https://t.co/oJYbQJa2RJ pic.twitter.com/qkVv1hdj5N
— Rubén Sánchez (@RubenSanchezTW) October 23, 2023
Lawyers had estimated that the median payout will be around US$30 per person, though the actual amount might be more or less depending on how many months you used Facebook and how many others filed.
When the Facebook $725M Privacy Settlement Payments Are Going Out?
Here’s the timeline and what to expect:
As of early September 2025 (specifically September 3), the administrator began issuing payments.
Payments will be distributed in batches over about 10 weeks, meaning the process will span roughly until mid-November 2025.
Before you get paid, you’ll receive an email notification about 3-4 days ahead of the payment being issued. So keep an eye on your inbox (and spam/junk folder).
Facebook Privacy Settlement: Check out last day to file a claim in $725 million settlement
How You Will Be Paid?
The method used depends on what you selected when you submitted your claim:
1. Some claimants chose digital payment services like PayPal, Venmo, Zelle.
2. Others opted for direct deposit, prepaid Mastercard, or a paper check.
Also, note that the total net settlement amount (after fees) is less than the headline $725 million. For example, lawyers’ fees and administrative costs reduce the portion available for claimants.
What You Should Do (if You Did File a Claim)?
Check your email: Look for messages from something like Facebook User Privacy Settlement Administrator. You’ll get notice a few days before the payment is issued.
Verify your payment method: Make sure you still have access to whatever account or address you used for your claim (PayPal, bank account, postal address, etc.). If that’s changed, see if there’s a way to update details via the settlement administrator (if possible). Sometimes updates aren’t allowed after the deadline, so check carefully.
Watch for checks in the mail (if you chose paper check) or deposits/credits (if digital or bank methods).
If you have not yet received any communication (notification of approval, or notice that payment is coming), contact the settlement administrator with your claim ID. Their contact info is available on the official settlement website.
What If You Missed the Claim Deadline?
If you did not submit a claim by August 25, 2023, you are, unfortunately, not eligible to receive any payment now. The courts have closed the claim period.
If you filed a valid claim, you should start seeing your payment in September through late fall 2025, depending on when your batch is processed. The amount will likely be modest (estimates around US$30) unless your Facebook usage spanned many years in that period and relatively fewer people claimed. Watch your email for notice and check the method you selected to get paid.
