If you were a Facebook User (had a Facebook account) and used that account between April 22, 2010 and September 16, 2011 and visited a non-Facebook website that displayed the Facebook button, you may be eligible for a payment from a Facebook Internet Tracking class action lawsuit. I know that sounds complicated, but here’s a shorter version: If you had a Facebook account between April 22, 2010 and September 16, 2011, and visited websites such as a blog that had the Facebook Like button on it (to like the URL), then you are probably owned money.
If you didn’t have a Facebook account between April 22, 2010 and September 16, 2011, then you probably aren’t owned any money as a part of the class action settlement.
And, if you had a Facebook account between April 22, 2010 and September 16, 2011, then most likely you have received an email from the Facebook Internet Tracking Settlement Administrator. The email would have come from donotreply@FBInternetTrackingSettlement.com. Check your spam folder to see if you’ve received this email and it didn’t go to your Inbox.
I just went through the process of making a claim, and you aren’t required to include any personally sensitive information at all. Just your email address and your account ID.
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How Do You Know This Is Real and Legit?
That’s a good question, as there are always questions that should come up (be wary of everything) when you get these types of emails. There is an article about the settlement in Reuters, and the dates in the article and the email line up. They are not asking for any personal information except your email address. I have checked the domain name WHOIS data, and even though the domain name is fairly new, it’s not been registered with in the past few days. Also, based on my personal knowledge of how Facebook (Meta) protects their brand online and monitors new Facebook-related domain name registrations, the domain name and website would not have been up and running for that long if it wasn’t legit.
Also, one of the attorneys involved with administering this settlement reached out to me to give me additional information.
How To Submit a Claim
To submit a claim, find the email that you received regarding the settlement. There will be a Notice ID and a Confirmation Code provided in the email. You can also go to the website directly, FBInternetTrackingSettlement.com, and submit the claim form there. Please watch the video below to see more information about submitting a claim through the website:
Information about the Facebook Internet Tracking Settlement
Here’s information about the settlement, directly from the email and website:
If you are a person who, between April 22, 2010 and September 26, 2011, inclusive, were a Facebook User in the United States who visited non-Facebook websites that displayed the Facebook Like button, you may be eligible for a payment from a Class Action Settlement.
- A Settlement has been reached between Defendant Meta Platforms, Inc., formerly Facebook, Inc. (“Meta” or “Defendant”) and Plaintiffs in a class action lawsuit pending in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California.
- You are included in this Settlement as a Settlement Class Member if, between April 22, 2010 and September 26, 2011 inclusive, you were a Facebook User in the United States who visited non-Facebook websites that displayed the Facebook Like button.
- The lawsuit is known as In Re Facebook Internet Tracking Litigation, Case No. 5:12-MD-02314-EJD (N.D. California). Defendant denies that it violated any law but has agreed to the Settlement to avoid the costs and risks associated with continuing this case.
The Claim Form must be submitted no later than September 22, 2022. You can submit your Claim Form online at www.FBInternetTrackingSettlement.com or download the claim from the Settlement Website and mail it to the Settlement Administrator.
This lawsuit alleges that the Defendant improperly obtained and collected data from Facebook Users in the United States who visited non-Facebook websites that displayed the Facebook Like button between April 22, 2010 and September 26, 2011, inclusive. The Defendant expressly denies any liability or wrongdoing whatsoever.
How to File a Claim
If you think you may be a member of the class, then you need to file a claim. Here is how to file a claim for the Facebook Internet Tracking Settlement.
- First, you need to check your email to see if you received the notice. It may be in your spam folder if you have not received it in your inbox. If you have not received the email, then go to www.FBInternetTrackingSettlement.com.
- If you received the email, note your Notice ID and Confirmation Code. You will need that when you submit the claim.
- Next, go to www.FBInternetTrackingSettlement.com and click on “Submit a Claim”.
- On the Submit a Claim page, enter the Notice ID and Confirmation Code, and click Submit. If the Notice ID and Confirmation Code are correct, they will have your email address and information already.
- If you do not have a Notice ID and Confirmation Code, simply click “Click Here” to proceed, and enter the required information.
- Enter any additional usernames that you may have had during the time period. For example, if you had more than one Facebook account, enter the Username.
- Choose how you would like to get paid. There are several different payment options.
- Click Submit to submit the claim.
You can also view the video that I put together regarding submitting a claim. The video is embedded on the post above.
How Much Will I Get
If you fill out the claim form you received via email, and you’re approved as being a “member of the class”, and qualify, then you will receive payment. How much will you and I get?
We don’t know.
It ultimately depends on how many people make a claim and fill out the form. The total amount, that will be split amongst everyone who is a member of the class, is $90 million. So, the more people who fill it out the less you’ll get. Here are the technical details of that: “If you submit an Approved Claim and have not submitted a valid and timely request for exclusion from the Settlement Class, you will receive an equal share of the Net Settlement Fund.”
However, keep in mind that a previous Facebook class action settlement actually that was related to the State of Illinois (IL residents only) gave over $300 to each person. Many received their payment via PayPal. That settlement was $650 million, though, a lot more. So, I suspect that you and I would get a lot less in this case.
