Facebook Begins $725 Million Privacy Settlement Payments to Users

Facebook has begun sending out payments from a $725 million privacy settlement to users who claimed the company improperly shared their data with third-party advertisers and data brokers. The settlement, related to multiple lawsuits and rooted in the Cambridge Analytica scandal, dates back to 2018 and involves users whose Facebook accounts were “activated” between May 24, 2007, and December 22, 2022.

Those approved to receive payments will get an email from the “Facebook User Privacy Settlement Administrator” (donotreply@facebookuserprivacysettlement.com), indicating the claim has been accepted. Users are asked to watch for a follow-up message three to four days before the funds are disbursed.

Payments began in September 2025 and will continue for about ten weeks. The average payment among eligible users is approximately US $29.43, while the maximum payout—reserved for those whose Facebook accounts were active for the entire 15-year period—rises to roughly US $38.36. The amount each person receives depends on how many “allocation points” they earn, calculated by the number of months their account was active during the covered period — more months, more points, higher payout.

The lawsuit claimed Facebook (Meta) violated users’ privacy by facilitating data sharing without proper consent. Although Meta has denied liability, the company agreed to the settlement to resolve the lawsuits.