Facebook Settlement Update: Payments Being Sent to Millions

After nearly three years of waiting, Facebook users are finally receiving notifications about their long-awaited payments from a historic $725 million settlement. The settlement, announced in December 2022, faced delays earlier this year pending the resolution of two appeals. However, recent updates on the settlement website and emails sent to class members have confirmed that payments are now on their way.

Angeion, the settlement administrator, will be distributing payments in waves over a 75-day period due to the large volume of claims. With over 19 million validated claims, the Facebook settlement is reportedly the largest class-action settlement ever in terms of the number of class members. Meta, the parent company of Facebook, has denied any wrongdoing in the matter but agreed to the settlement to avoid the costs and risks of a trial.

The class-action lawsuit at the center of the settlement revolves around allegations that private Facebook user data was improperly shared with third parties during the Cambridge Analytica scandal. Multiple legal complaints from 2018 were consolidated into one case, leading to this massive privacy settlement and the subsequent payments, seven years later.

For current or former Facebook users wondering about the settlement payments, here are some key points to keep in mind:

### How much are the payments in the Facebook settlement?
The average payment will be $29.42, with a maximum amount of $38.36, according to a recent court filing. Users who have had active accounts since the late 2000s are eligible for the largest payouts. To qualify for the maximum payment, users must have been active throughout the entire class period from 2007 to 2022 (188 months). The settlement administrator has also set a minimum payment of $4.89. Users can check their payment approval status in recent emails from the “Facebook User Privacy Settlement Administrator,” but the email will not specify the exact payment amount.

### When are the Facebook settlement payments going out?
The distribution of settlement payments is currently underway, with payments being issued in batches over a period of up to 10 weeks. The settlement administrator will disburse payments based on the information provided in users’ claim forms. Payment methods include PayPal, Venmo, Zelle, direct deposit, check, or a prepaid Mastercard. Class members should watch for email notifications three to four days before receiving their payment.

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