In 2022 it was announced that Facebook could owe countless users millions in financial settlements, after it was found that the platform was unknowingly tracking user behaviour on other sites in the US.
The suit raised against Facebook claimed that subscribers to the social media platform were being assessed and tracked all over the web, regardless of whether or not they were signed into or using Facebook – breaching privacy promises and regulations.
Let’s take a closer look at the lawsuit and how it affected Facebook users.
What Exactly Was the Lawsuit About?
The lawsuit made against Facebook claimed that any website that has a ‘Like’ button connected to it, was subject to user activity tracking and assessment between April 2010 and September 2011.
Users who accessed and visited these sites may well have had their activity and information logged by Facebook unknowingly.
So, how do you know if you fall into the eligible category and could be due some kind of payout?
Are You Eligible to Be Part of the Lawsuit?
The simplest eligibility terms called out for:
- Users who were active on Facebook between April 2010 and September 2011 in the United States
- Users who visited websites that displayed a Facebook ‘Like’ button
Those who were definitely due compensation and were considered a part of the lawsuit received a personalised notice.
Even those who did not receive such a notice could still apply to be a part of the lawsuit, with every application thoroughly assessed by inhouse administrators.
The deadline for submissions was September 2022, making this lawsuit a past example of how Facebook is consistently being held to account for its tracking and use of data – even as far back as 2010/11.
And this isn’t Facebook’s only lawsuit.
Another lawsuit was brought against Facebook in 2023, seeking users who were active on the platform between 2007 and 2022 and whose data may have been made accessible to third party companies and sites without express permission. This specific lawsuit was directly linked with President Donald Trump’s campaign in 2016, with Facebook user information and data used to build voter profiles.
Payouts for this are still being made and received today, in 2024.
How to File as Part of a Lawsuit
If you are eligible for any of Facebook’s lawsuits and /or class action cases, then you can seek legal advice or submit a claim which will be assessed by inhouse administrators on the case.
Were you a part of the above cases or any other lawsuit and class action against Facebook? If so, how much did you receive in payout from Facebook?
