Data Privacy Settlement · June 2026

Facebook’s $725 million privacy settlement is now sending out a second round of payments. The lawsuit — In re: Facebook, Inc. Consumer Privacy User Profile Litigation — covered claims that Facebook shared U.S. users’ data with third parties without permission, including data brokers and political consulting firms, between May 24, 2007 and December 22, 2022. Meta denied all wrongdoing. Here’s everything you need to know about whether you qualify, how much you might get, and what to watch out for.

$725M
Total settlement amount approved by court
~19M
Valid claims filed out of ~250M eligible users
$29.43
Average first payment (September 2025)
~$100M
Pool available for second-round payments

How This Settlement Unfolded

From the Cambridge Analytica scandal in 2018 to the second payout in June 2026 — a full timeline.

2018
Cambridge Analytica Scandal
Reports revealed that Cambridge Analytica had harvested data from millions of Facebook users without explicit consent, using it to build voter profiles. Multiple class action lawsuits followed against Facebook and its parent company Meta.
May 2007 – December 2022
Coverage Period
The settlement covers U.S. Facebook users during this 15-year window. Claimants received allocation points for each month they held an active account — the longer the account history, the larger the payout calculation.
December 2022
$725M Settlement Reached
Meta and plaintiffs reached a $725 million settlement to resolve the class action. Meta denied all claims and any violation of law. A federal judge gave final approval in October 2023.
August 25, 2023
Claim Deadline — Now Closed
Roughly 19 million valid claims were submitted out of an estimated 250 million eligible U.S. users. No new claims can be filed. The window is permanently closed.
September 2025
First Payments Sent
After two appeals cleared in May 2025, the settlement became final and first-round payments averaging $29.43 went out to approved claimants. Over 200,000 checks went uncashed, and more than 3 million digital payments expired — creating the pool for round two.
June 9, 2026 — Now
Second Round Begins
A U.S. District Court approved the second distribution on May 6, 2026. Payments began June 9 and will continue in batches for about four weeks. Only those who cashed their first payment are included. Expected average: $5–$7, drawn from roughly $100 million in unclaimed first-round funds going to an estimated 15.7 million people.

The Money Breakdown

Of the $725 million total, administrative and legal fees were taken first. Here’s where the money went.

$725M total fund ~$556M reached claimants (round 1)
$556M to claimants
~$100M round 2
~$556M distributed in first round ~$100M available for second round Remainder: legal & admin fees
Round 1
~$29.43
Sent September 2025
19 million claimants
Round 2
$5–$7
Starting June 9, 2026
~15.7 million eligible

Payment amount per claimant was calculated based on how long each person used Facebook within the 15-year coverage window. Round 2 is smaller because it draws from uncashed/expired funds only.

Payment Methods

Payments are being sent using the same method you chose when you originally filed your claim.

📬Check
🏦Direct Deposit
💙PayPal
💜Venmo
💛Zelle
💳Prepaid Debit

Check Your Eligibility for Round 2

Answer three quick questions to find out if a second payment is coming your way.

1. Did you have a U.S. Facebook account between May 2007 and December 2022?

The Facebook User Privacy Settlement — formally known as In re: Facebook, Inc. Consumer Privacy User Profile Litigation — was covered in its full background, eligibility requirements, payment rounds, and timeline above. The settlement resolved allegations about user data being shared with third parties between 2007 and 2022. Meta denied all claims. The second distribution, approved by the court on May 6, 2026, drew from uncashed and expired funds from the first round, with payments beginning June 9, 2026, across a four-week window. For broader context on AI and data privacy developments in 2026, and how platforms are handling user data and digital identity, see related coverage. Questions about AI accountability and platform trust remain active areas of discussion in parallel.

Source: FacebookUserPrivacySettlement.com (Official settlement administrator) · Court order approving second distribution: May 6, 2026 · Administrator: Angeion Group, LLC