If you’re a Facebook user in the US, you might have noticed something unusual in your bank account or mailbox recently—a notice about a settlement payment or even actual cash! This money comes from a class-action lawsuit regarding “Internet tracking” that has been in court for several years. The lawsuit accuses Facebook of tracking users’ browsing activities without their consent, even when they were logged out of their accounts.
What was this ‘Internet tracking’ case?
The entire case is related to activities between April 2010 and September 2011. The allegation was that Facebook silently collected users’ browsing information using cookies and social plug-ins on third-party websites. This information continued to be tracked even when users were logged out of their Facebook accounts. Facebook allegedly used this data to create advertising profiles, giving it an unfair edge in the market but violating users’ privacy.
$90 million settlement, but no admission of fault
Meta Platforms Inc. (formerly Facebook Inc.) agreed to pay $90 million to settle the case but also made it clear that it is not admitting any kind of fault. That is, this settlement has been done on the basis of “no admission of guilt.”
Now people are getting money – from paper check to digital transfer
People who filed valid claims before the 2022 deadline have now started receiving payments. These payments are being made in many ways, such as by paper check, PayPal, Venmo, or digital deposit directly into the bank account. Although the amount received by everyone is different, most people are getting an amount between about $30 and $40. It depends on how many people filed claims and how much they used Facebook during that time period.
Why did it take so long for the payment to come?
Class-action lawsuits are usually very complex and take a lot of time to review all the documents, claim verification, court approval, etc. In this case too, the process of payments has started almost three years after the claim was submitted.
Did you file a claim but did not get payment? Do this
If you filed a claim on time but have not received payment yet, then there is no need to panic. You can check the status of your claim by visiting the official settlement website or contacting the claim administrator. It is possible that there is a technical delay in your case or the information is incomplete.
This settlement is different from Facebook’s larger $725 million settlement
There’s a very important thing to keep in mind – this “internet tracking” settlement is different from the larger $725 million settlement associated with the Cambridge Analytica data privacy scandal. If you filed a claim in both cases, you’ll need to track both claims separately. The settlement process is different and payments are being made at different times.
Conclusion – Users win over data privacy
This lawsuit and its outcome can be seen as a positive sign that holding tech companies accountable is more important now than ever. User privacy is no small issue and legal cases like these remind us that change is possible if we stay vigilant and stand up for our rights. If you filed a claim, keep an eye on your bank statements and mailbox – your check could arrive at any time!
FAQs
Q. What is the Facebook Internet Tracking lawsuit about?
A. It involves Facebook allegedly tracking users’ browsing activity on third-party websites without consent between April 2010 and September 2011.
Q. How much money will I receive from the settlement?
A. Most users are receiving between $30 to $40, depending on the number of claims and their online activity during the eligible period.
Q. When will the payments be sent out?
A. Payments have already begun to be sent out via paper checks or digital deposits like PayPal, Venmo, or direct bank transfers.
Q. How can I check if I am eligible for the settlement?
A. You can check the official settlement website or contact the claims administrator for updates on your claim status.
Q. Is this settlement the same as the $725 million Facebook data privacy settlement?
A. No, this settlement is separate from the $725 million Facebook settlement related to the Cambridge Analytica scandal.