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A second round of payments is set to be distributed to certain Facebook users as part of a $725 million privacy class-action settlement involving Meta, the parent company of Facebook. This settlement stems from allegations that Facebook improperly shared users' private data with numerous third parties, including advertisers and data brokers. A notable instance linked to these claims is the Cambridge Analytica scandal, where Facebook data was utilized for political campaign profiling. The lawsuits in question cover a significant timeframe, from May 24, 2007, to December 22, 2022. While Meta has denied any wrongdoing or legal responsibility, the settlement was officially approved in 2023, with all appeals concluded by May 2025.
The initial round of payments commenced in September 2025, with eligible users receiving approximately $29 to $30, depending on their usage and claim specifics. Out of an estimated 250 million eligible users, only about 19 million received payments during this first distribution, according to Yahoo Finance. Additionally, around $169 million from the settlement was allocated for legal and administrative expenses, highlighting the significant costs associated with the case.
The upcoming second payment is being issued due to the return of uncashed checks from the first round, which are now being redistributed. This second distribution is exclusively for individuals who filed a claim before the August 25, 2023 deadline. Those who received the first payment will automatically qualify for the second, eliminating the need for a new application.
Expected to be modest, the second payment is projected to be around $5 to $7, as it is derived from leftover funds. Payments for this round are scheduled to begin on June 9, 2026, and will continue for approximately four weeks. Eligible users will receive email notifications three to four days prior to the payment, with the subject line indicating the “Facebook User Privacy Settlement – Second Distribution.”
Authorities have issued warnings regarding potential scams, advising users to be cautious of fraudulent emails or messages that may attempt to deceive them into believing they can expedite their settlement payments. Officials have clarified that if individuals were eligible for the settlement, they would have already filed a claim and likely received their first payment last year, as reported by Yahoo Finance.
