Meta Pays Out $725M Settlement in Cambridge Analytica Scandal

Meta has begun distributing a $725 million settlement to Facebook users affected by the Cambridge Analytica scandal. The class-action lawsuit, stemming from the 2018 revelation that up to 87 million users' data was improperly accessed, concluded in December 2022. Eligible users – those with active accounts between May 24, 2007, and December 22, 2022 – had until August 25, 2023, to file a claim. Approximately 18 million claims were validated. Payments are based on the length of time users had a Facebook account and will be sent via bank account, PayPal, virtual prepaid Mastercard, Venmo, or Zelle. Distribution began recently and is expected to last 10 weeks.