More than 311,000 Australians could be eligible for a share of $50 million from Facebook’s parent company Meta as a part of a landmark settlement stemming from the Cambridge Analytica privacy breach.
For those who are eligible for a share in the settlement, the deadline to submit a claim is approaching.
Here’s what you need to know about the settlement and eligibility requirements.
More than 311,000 Australians could be eligible for a share of $50 million from Facebook’s parent company Meta. (Getty)
Who is eligible for the $50 million Facebook payout?
The compensation program is open to Australians who had a Facebook account between November 2, 2013, and December 17, 2015.
The individuals must have been present in Australia for more than 30 days during that period.
Eligible Facebook users must have either installed the app This Is Your Digital Life or been Facebook friends with someone who did.
The amount affected Facebook users will be paid will depend on how many people register for the compensation program.
What is the deadline to submit a claim?
The compensation claims period opened on June 30 this year.
Eligible Australians have until December 31 to make a claim for compensation.
What if I didn’t install the app?
An investigation by the national privacy regulator, the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC), found 53 Australian Facebook users installed the This Is Your Digital Life app, which appeared as a personality test to extract personal information.
However, another 311,074 Australian Facebook users were friends with those 53 people, which meant the app could have requested their information as well.
If you’re not sure whether or not your friends installed the app, check this Facebook help page.
How do I apply for the Facebook compensation?
The compensation program is being administered by consultancy firm KPMG, which has set up a website with frequently asked questions and advice on how to make a claim.
However, Australians should be on alert for scammers who offer to help with obtaining payments.
“If you receive a call from anyone offering to help you with a payment or refund, hang up immediately,” the OAIC said on its website.
“Never give personal information to anyone calling you out of the blue, never give access to your computer or bank account and never click on a link in a text message or open an attachment in an email if you were not expecting the text or email.
“If you have given information to a scammer or lost money, contact your bank immediately.”
