(NEXSTAR) – A massive class action settlement against Facebook – with a settlement fund of $725 million – was given final approval in court last year, but appeals and legal proceedings have delayed payments from going out.
After months of waiting, there's an update: We'll have to wait even longer.
Objectors to the settlement have filed two separate appeals to the final settlement, which was approved by a San Francisco judge in October 2023. According to Angeion, the company managing the settlement, it appears the appeals won't even get a hearing date "until the first half of 2025 or later."
"The time frame for resolving an appeal can vary widely, and we will know more as the appeals proceed," the settlement update reads.
Even once the hearing date is set, that's just the next step. The judge will need to determine if the appeal has merit, if more evidence or paperwork is needed, or if any other proceedings are necessary – all of which would push back the timeline for settlement payouts being issued.
Payments will go out to eligible recipients once all the appeals are settled, Angeion said. Basically everyone who had a Facebook account between 2007 and 2022 qualified, but the filing deadline has passed.
At least 17 million people's claims have already been validated, meaning they'll receive a payout if and when the legal dust settles.
Not everyone will receive the same sized payment, because the longer you had a Facebook account, the more money you qualify for. However, don't expect a life-changing sum heading your way; lawyers for the plaintiffs have estimated the median check will be around $30.
Facebook's parent company Meta agreed to pay $725 million to settle claims it violated users’ privacy by sharing their data with third parties. While Meta agreed to the settlement, it denies all wrongdoing.
