Facebook users are finally seeing payments from a $725 million privacy case.

The Facebook user privacy settlement payout comes after years of lawsuits alleging the company allowed third parties to access user data without permission, USA Today reports. It is reportedly the largest class-action settlement in U.S. history based on number of class members, according to Money. Over 19 million claims have been validated.

Meta, Facebook’s parent company, has already started sending out payments tied to the settlement. Notifications began in September 2025, and payments will continue over the coming weeks.

The case covers Facebook’s data-sharing practices over 15 years, including the infamous Cambridge Analytica scandal that broke in 2018, where the consulting firm accessed data from as many as 87 million users without consent, AFROTECH™ previously reported.

While Meta has denied wrongdoing, the company agreed to settle to avoid trial.

This is not the first privacy-related action against Meta. In 2024, the company reached a $1.4 billion settlement with Texas over alleged biometric data violations, reflecting ongoing scrutiny of how social media platforms handle personal information. As AFROTECH™ reported in 2018, Yahoo reached a $50 million settlement after a data breach, showing that large-scale privacy cases have resulted in significant payouts across the tech industry.

U.S. residents who had a Facebook account between May 24, 2007, and Dec. 22, 2022, were eligible to submit a claim for the latest class action. To receive a Facebook user privacy settlement payout, claims had to be filed by Aug. 25, 2023. Once approved, claimants are notified by email about three to four days before their payment is issued. Angeion, the court-appointed administrator, oversees processing and provides updates through the official settlement website, according to The Hill.

To manage the high volume of claims, payments are being issued in waves over 75 days, per USA Today. Users can receive their payout via PayPal, Venmo, Zelle, direct deposit, prepaid Mastercard, or paper check, depending on their preferred method.

Although the total settlement was $725 million, the eight lead settlement class plaintiffs were paid first, as well as attorney fees and administrative costs. About $541 million was allocated to the rest of claimants, the outlet reports. Payouts are based on the duration of an active Facebook account during the eligibility period. According to Money, most users will receive between $4.89 and $38.36, with the average payout just under $30. Those with accounts spanning the full eligibility period will receive the highest payout.