Millions to receive $725M Cambridge Analytica settlement payments

Millions of Facebook users who filed claims in a longrunning privacy class action have begun receiving payments from a $725 million settlement tied to the Cambridge Analytica data scandal, settlement administrators said, with distributions expected to continue for roughly 10 weeks. The payouts go to people who had Facebook accounts during the qualifying period and who submitted valid claims before the August 25, 2023 deadline, officials said.

Under the court-approved settlement, anyone with a U.S. Facebook account between May 24, 2007, and December 22, 2022, was eligible to file a claim, according to Angeion, the settlement administrator. Roughly 29 million claims were filed and about 18 million were validated, a 2024 court filing shows. The settlement administrator’s website says approved claimants will receive an email three to four days before funds are transferred, from donotreplyfacebookuserprivacysettlement.com with the subject line "Facebook User Privacy Settlement Settlement and Distribution Status Update."

The $725 million figure will cover payments to claimants after deductions for lead plaintiff awards, legal fees and administrative costs. Court documents indicate the...