Updated
September 15, 2024
Nearly 1.6 million Illinois Facebook users received about $397 from the $650M face-tagging (BIPA) settlement — here is how that payout happened and where the separate $725M data-privacy fund stands.
Facebook Privacy Settlement Pays Out $725,000,000
Facebook has agreed to a $725 Million class action settlement over allegations that it released private user data without user permission. The class action will be open to claims to any United States Facebook user until at least August 25, 2023. Here's where you can find more information on how to get paid in the $725 Million Meta class action. A court-approved second distribution of those payments is expected to begin in June 2026 — read the Facebook settlement second payment update. For a history of the 2022 Facebook class action, read on below.In a separate, similarly record-breaking landmark class action settlement with Meta Platforms, Facebook agreed to contribute yet another $650,000,000 to a class action fund to be distributed for qualifying Facebook users, who ended up receiving nearly $400 in class action payments. The settlement fund was agreed upon as the result of a class action lawsuit against facebook for violating Illinois Privacy laws - this law is called BIPA.
Google and Snapchat Privacy Violations
In May 2022, Google settled a $100 Million Class Action relating to their Google Photos application facing similar allegations to Facebook with tagging and facial recognition without opt-in from users.Facebook Pays Users for Settlement
Class action members that were involved in the 2022 Facebook BIPA class action settlement are reporting deposits, checks, and electronic gift cards in the amount of $397 as a result of filing legitimate claims during the claims period for the class action. Nearly 1.6 Million users are estimated to have been sent the payment.Why Was Facebook originally sued?
The original class action lawsuit alleged that Facebook illegally used facial recognition software without users opting in or allowing Facebook to collect their "biometric" data in the form of face recognition. Specifically, this was the "tag suggestion" feature which recommended faces to tag with a name. Those people that could be tagged often would be tagged without their permission or knowledge, allowing snoopers and stalkers to track them more easily. This was deemed a violation of Illinois state law, which was passed in 2008.Can I still File a Claim?
While it is too late to file a claim for the Facebook Privacy Class Action Settlement, this is a canary in the coalmine for other data driven or social media companies. For example, Google settled a $100 Million Class Action Lawsuit in relation to their Google Photos Application facing similar allegations to Facebook with tagging and facial recognition without opt-in from users in the context of the Illinois privacy law, BIPA. This is similar to a pending Snapchat class action investigation as of May 2022. Stay on the lookout on this website and other news sites to see if other companies become involved in class action settlements for personal privacy violations.Free settlement alerts
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