Facebook users have until Friday to file a monetary claim to receive a portion of the $725 million settlement by Facebook's parent company, Meta.
The settlement came as the result of multiple lawsuits that were brought against the company by users claiming Meta improperly shared their information with third-party sources like advertisers and data brokers.
Anyone who has used Facebook in the last 16 years is eligible to file a claim on the claim website.
How do I claim money under the Facebook settlement?
Go to the claim website to fill out your claim, or else print out the claim and mail it to this address: Facebook Consumer Privacy User Profile Litigation, c/o Settlement Administrator, 1650 Arch Street, Suite 2210, Philadelphia, PA 19103.
What information do I need to provide?
The claim asks for basic information:
- Your name
- Your address
- Your email
- Your phone
- If you lived in the U.S. between May 24, 2007, and December 22, 2022
- If you were a Facebook user between May 24, 2007, and December 22, 2022
- If you deleted your account in that period, the date range when you were a Facebook user
- Your Facebook user name
- The payment service you prefer, such as PayPal, Venmo or a prepaid Mastercard
How long does it take to fill out the form?
It should take only a few minutes.
How do I find my Facebook name?
You can find it on Facebook's website by going to "Account" and then clicking on "Settings and Privacy." From there, click on "Settings," where you should see "Username."
Is the Facebook settlement legit?
Yes, according to Meta.
"We pursued a settlement as it's in the best interest of our community and shareholders," a Meta spokesperson told CBS MoneyWatch. "We are notifying people through their Facebook notifications about this settlement so they can decide whether to participate."
However, the claim settlement administrator is warning to be alert for requests asking for personal information such as your Social Security number — something the administrator will never ask for. Likewise, requests for payment in order to get part of the settlement are also suspect.
"[I]t is possible they are efforts to defraud," according to the claims website.
Can I update my claim if my information changed?
Yes. To do so, go to the settlement website and click on "Filed a claim? Click here to edit your claim," which is at the top of the page.
You'll need to provide your confirmation code and claim ID, which is sent to you in a confirmation email after you've initially filed your claim.
If you sent your claim electronically, you can update your claim by emailing: info@facebookuserprivacysettlement.com
If you sent your claim by mail, you can send your updated your information, as well as your name and contact information, to the following address:
Facebook Consumer Privacy User Profile Litigation
c/o Settlement Administrator
1650 Arch Street, Suite 2210
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Can I file for more than one Facebook account?
The claim administrator says that if you created but deleted one or more Facebook accounts, and then later created a new Facebook account, you can claim for the full amount of time you had an activated Facebook account during that time.
However, if you had multiple accounts at the same time, you can't get a claim for those extra accounts. In other words, no double-counting, according to the claim administrator.
Can I file for a deceased person?
Yes, but it takes a few extra steps.
First, file the claim under the name of the deceased person and fill out their details in the "Your Facebook Account" section of the claim form.
Next, you'll have to provide the claim settlement administrator with a request to change the name to the beneficiary or the estate of the claimant. To do that, you'll have to provide documentation showing the reason for the name change, such as a copy of the death certificate. Send an email to the administrator through its secure portal with the explanation and the documents that demonstrate the need for the change.
The secure portal will allow you to send an email to administrative@angeiongroup.com. Use the subject line: "Name Change – Facebook User Privacy Settlement" and include the claim ID from the claim confirmation, as well as the full name of the deceased person. The site will also ask you to register with your email and password.
You can also mail the documentation to:
Facebook User Privacy Settlement
Attn: Name Change
1650 Arch Street, Suite 2210
Philadelphia, PA 19103
How much money will I get?
That's unclear because the settlement amount per user will depend on how many people fill out a claim, according to the settlement website.
However, the lawyers involved in the case are likely to take a portion of the settlement as part of their fees. The claim website notes that they could be awarded up to 25% of the settlement — or $181.3 million. If they receive that much, the settlement will be reduced to $543.7 million for the Facebook users who ask for part of the claim.
Each claimant will get one point for each month when they had an "activated" Facebook account between May 24, 2007, and December 22, 2022. The settlement administrator will add up all the points assigned to all claimants and then divide the net settlement amount by that number.
Each claimant will receive that per-point amount multiplied by the number of points they were assigned, meaning that people who have been on Facebook for shorter periods of time would likely get a lower settlement amount.
When will I get the money?
Not until later this year at the earliest.
The claims site notes that there is a final approval hearing for the settlement on September 7, when the court will decide whether to approve the deal and award attorneys' fees and other costs. If the settlement is approved, the case could still face appeals, which would take an unknown amount of time to be resolved, the website notes.
"Settlement payments will be distributed as soon as possible if the court grants final approval of the settlement and after any appeals are resolved," it notes.
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