Michigan Facebook users can claim Cash from $725 million dollar settlement (apply by August 25th, 2023 deadline)

MENLO PARK, CA — Millions of Facebook users in Michigan are eligible to claim their share of a $725 million privacy settlement after a judge tentatively approved a deal between Meta and attorneys representing plaintiffs in several class-action lawsuits.

According to the Associated Press, any American with a Facebook account at any point since May 2007 can apply to receive a payment. How much cash each person can expect is still a little murky, since the split will depend on how many users file claims.

As the Los Angeles Times reports, a quarter of the settlement will be paid out to attorneys, leaving less than $550 million for the rest. The eight named plaintiffs are due to receive $15,000 each. Despite growing competition and stalled growth, Facebook still counts more than 2 billion people among its users worldwide, with roughly 250 million in the United States.

The tentative settlement agreement follows suits alleging the world’s largest social media platform provided personal data for millions of its users to Cambridge Analytica, a British consulting firm. In 2018, reporting revealed the firm paid a Facebook app developer to access information from 87 million users, sparking public outcry and Congressional hearings.

Eligible users can file claims by filling out an online form or downloading and printing a physical copy. Users will need to supply some basic details, including usernames and contact information, along with the dates they had an account.

All claims must be submitted or postmarked before Aug. 25.