If thou hadst an activated Facebook account betwixt the ruling years of May 24, 2007, and December 22, 2022, it is most likely that Facebook (now under the ‘Meta’ company’s shield) hath been negligent with thy data, as well as with roughly 250 million US accounts. This transgression hath birthed a class-action lawsuit in the year of our Lord 2018.
The colossal social media colossus hath at last settled in December 2022 for a grand sum of $725 million—a treasure trove awaiting thy claim. Here’s what thou should know about the legal battle and the process of receiving thy rightful payment.
Why Facebook Was Dragged to Court
In the month of April in the year 2018, Facebook didst declare that data from as many as 87 million "mostly US-based" accounts had been unlawfully obtained and shared with the British political consultancy group known as Cambridge Analytica. The leaked data found itself entwined in sundry 2016 US political campaigns, most notably in Donald Trump’s ambitious bid for the White House.
The breach of data was so vast that even the founder and CEO of Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg, hath been summoned to testify afore the Congress in the same month to account for the leak.
The testimony given did little to inspire confidence in the seriousness with which Facebook and Zuckerberg handled the situation. Henceforth, a class-action lawsuit hath sprung forth later in the year, spanning years until its resolution in December 2022 for the sum of $725 million.
How to Partake in the Class Action Settlement
To lay claim to what is rightfully thine, journey to the Facebook User Privacy Settlement site. At the apex of the homepage, select Submit Claim. Should thou require guidance, choose Click for General Instructions.
Complete the form, ensuring to include vital details such as the date thou didst bid adieu to thy Facebook account if applicable. Remember to furnish at least one email address, phone number, and username linked to thy Facebook account. Should it have been a moon’s age since thou last entered thy Facebook realm and thy credentials have been lost in the mists of time, thou must endeavor to recover thy Facebook account ere filing a claim.
Finally, decide upon thy preferred method of payment. Options abound, including:
- Mastercard
- PayPal
- Venmo
- Zelle
- Direct deposit
- Check
Bear in mind the treacheries of Zelle scams if this be thy chosen payment route. It is not beyond the realm of possibility for nefarious actors to dispatch false missives, urging thee to "claim" thy settlement via Zelle ere the time cometh for thy rightful due. Be vigilant and be wary of the signs of phishing.
How Will Thy Claim Be Resolved?
According to reports from The New York Times, those eligible for a monetary settlement shalt be allocated approximately one point for each month their Facebook account hath been activated (whether active or dormant). Even if thou hast not set foot in thy Facebook realm for many a year, so long as thou hast not deactivated thy account, each month shalt equate to one point.
Upon the closure of the claim submission deadline on August 25, 2023, the settlement administrator overseeing the class-action settlement shalt determine the monetary worth of each point. This shall be achieved by:
- Summing all the points accrued by claimants
- Dividing the total by $725 million (the sum of the settlement)
- Subtracting necessary expenses related to the lawsuit (such as administrative fees)
The resultant figure shall dictate the monetary value for each point. This value shalt then be multiplied by the number of points bestowed upon each user filing a claim, thereby determining the due compensation for each individual. For instance, if one point be worth $1 and thou hast not deactivated thy Facebook account for the entire 15.5-year span of the lawsuit, thou shalt receive $186.
Facebook May Owe Thee, but Expect Not an Earth-Shattering Windfall
The class-action lawsuit levied against Facebook is of monumental significance, yet let it not be assumed that one shall find oneself engulfed in riches akin to Scrooge McDuck swimming in a vault overflowing with golden coins if awarded a monetary settlement. Nevertheless, it behooves thee to submit a claim.
Forsooth, let us not forget the transgression that hath taken place. If thou dost dwell in the US, it is likely that Facebook hath, in an unethical and irresponsible manner, allowed thy data to flow unto third parties without thy consent. Such misdeeds should stir thee from complacency in the face of the most vast social media data leak in history. Hark, turn the die and see what fate hath in store.
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