Meta to Pay $725 Million for Facebook Privacy Violations

Meta to Pay $725 Million to Settle Facebook Privacy Lawsuit

Meta, the parent company of Facebook, has agreed to pay $725 million to settle a class-action lawsuit alleging that the company violated the privacy of its users by allowing the data of millions of users to be shared with a third-party company.

The lawsuit, which was filed in 2018, alleged that Meta allowed Cambridge Analytica, a political consulting firm, to access the personal data of millions of Facebook users without their consent. Cambridge Analytica then used the data to target users with political advertising.

Under the terms of the settlement, Meta will pay $725 million to affected users. The settlement also requires Meta to implement new privacy measures to protect the data of its users.

"This resolution stands as a notable triumph for champions of privacy rights and the countless Facebook users whose data was unlawfully disclosed," remarked Steve Berman, an attorney representing the plaintiffs.

. “It sends a clear message that companies will be held accountable for their privacy violations.”

The settlement is the largest ever paid by a social media company to settle a privacy lawsuit. It is also a major setback for Meta, which has been under fire for its handling of user data in recent years.

The settlement is still subject to court approval. If approved, it will be distributed to affected users in the form of cash payments or credits for Facebook products and services.