Get up to €500 compensation for a Facebook Data Breach!

Intro

Have you ever wondered about the hidden consequences of your Facebook use? Imagine a scenario where your data, the digital footprint of your online life, is used without your knowledge. Sounds unsettling, doesn’t it? Well, social media giant Facebook seems to think so, too – so much so that they’ve put a whopping $725 million on the table as a settlement for their users for Facebook data breaches. It’s an obvious acknowledgment that the stakes are high in the world of online privacy.

Key Takeaways:

• Prevalence of Facebook data breaches and the timeline;
• Policies protecting users from Facebook breach of privacy;
• Facebook’s response to data leaks and the implications to the industry.
• Whether you were affected or are just exploring options, you can check your eligibility for compensation.

Facebook Data Breaches Explained

What Happened?

A Facebook data breach occurred in 2021 where the personal data of around 540 million Facebook users was compromised. The data became available on an online forum because of contact importer exploitation. Prior to that, the most scandalous Facebook hack happened when Cambridge Analytica, a political consulting firm, exposed the data of over 90 million users between 2013 and 2015. The scandal prompted Facebook to implement significant changes to its data policies, third-party app access, and privacy settings. 

Facebook privacy hack issues had a profound impact on how society perceives and demands accountability from tech companies regarding the handling of user data and privacy. Facebook, being a large social media platform, has faced various privacy and security-related controversies over the years. The first one was when it launched a feature called Beacon and shared users’ online activities on partner websites, although more Facebook data leaks occurred after this. Below is the complete timeline of the data breach issues that Facebook faced from 2007 to 2021.

Timeline

• 2023 (April): A $725 Million Privacy Settlement relating to the Cambridge Analytica scandal was opened to applications and closed in August 2023.

• 2021 (April): The personal data of over 530 million Facebook users leaked in an online forum. The stolen information appears to have been obtained from Facebook in 2019 when a group of hackers exploited a flaw in Facebook’s contact importer. Although the flaw was fixed in September 2019, the impacted users were not notified.

• 2020 (June): Facebook discovered that they accidentally shared their users’ data with third-party developers. The issue was promptly fixed by the company, which issued a blog post containing a public apology.

• 2020 (March): The second server was discovered by the same hacker group in December 2019. The server contains the data of over 40 million users, totaling over 300 million Facebook users whose details were obtained from. The hacker group based in Vietnam was responsible for this Facebook privacy leak.

• 2019 (December): Data from over 267 million Facebook accounts was captured by a hacker group. These accounts were found to be vulnerable on the dark web, and information like names, Facebook IDs, and phone numbers became easily obtainable.

• 2019 (September): Over 419 million Facebook users’ data was discovered on an exposed server. Data of these users, like their Facebook ID, countries, and phone numbers, became easily accessible to anyone. The server is not under Facebook and was taken down eventually.

• 2019 (April): Over 540 million Facebook users’ data was found to be stored in an Amazon cloud public server. Information like account names, Facebook IDs, comments, reactions, and more became publicly accessible. It was also discovered that over 1.5 million users’ email contacts were uploaded without permission.

• 2019 (March): A report found that up to 600 million Facebook passwords were stored in plaintext files.

• 2018 (December): The New York Times reported that Facebook had been sharing its users’ data without consent.

• 2018 (September): Due to privacy vulnerability, hackers were able to access the data of over 90 million users.

• 2018 (May): A glitch prevented the proper working of privacy settings, which publicly published the private posts of over 14 million users.

• 2018 (March): The biggest Facebook data breach scandal as of 2023 is the Cambridge Analytica Scandal that affected over 50 million users. Cambridge Analytica exploited a loophole in Facebook’s API between 2013 and 2015, which allowed the leak of personal data. The company considered it a hack and refused to take accountability until the incident was all over the media.

• 2013 (June): A bug was spotted and exposed the personal data of over 6 million users.

• 2013 (January): Facebook launched a graph search that ignited privacy concerns.

• 2010 (May): Facebook was discovered to have shared users’ data with advertisers through a privacy loophole.

• 2009 (December): Facebook made users’ posts public only, and there is no privacy control as of yet.

• 2007 (December): The earliest recorded Facebook hack was when the Beacon Advertising Program allowed to track Facebook Users Tracking.

Will there be a compensation?

It’s common for large-scale data breaches to result in compensation for affected individuals. The exact Facebook settlement amount may vary based on factors like the user’s location and the extent of the data breach.

Legal Proceedings and Facebook Settlement

As a result of the 2021 Facebook data breach, Meta was fined €265 million by Ireland’s Data Protection Commission (DPC) in November 2022 for breaking the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The DPC launched the probe immediately after the breach became public and included a review of whether Facebook conformed with the EU’s GDPR requirements. 

The DPC penalized Meta $18.6 million in March 2022 for poor record-keeping in connection with an array of 2018 Facebook data breaches that jeopardized the personal information of as many as 30 million Facebook users. Further, Instagram was fined €405 million for privacy breach in September 2022.

Before the recent Facebook breach of privacy incidents, the tech giant had been facing several class action lawsuits related to the same issue. Among them is the privacy breach associated with Cambridge Analytica way back in 2010. According to evidence, Facebook did not sufficiently comply with the 2011 settlement. As a result, the company has continued to face Federal Trade Commission cases and fines. 

Facebook agreed to a $725 million settlement in December 2022 for privacy violations related to the Cambridge Analytica. Affected customers were able to apply for their part of the financial litigation between April and August 25, 2023.

How to Claim Facebook from Compensation

If you want to get compensation for the data breach, you need to join a group lawsuit, also known as a class action. When you do this, you’ll work with a financial litigation partner who handles everything for you. That is us! Your task is just to apply and then wait to get money. 

Remunzo handles all the hard work. We set up the lawsuit and take the corporation to court for you. Corporations don’t want to pay money easily, but Remunzo will fight hard to get your settlement payout. When joining thousands of others in a lawsuit like this, the corporation is more likely to pay and the settlement payment amount per person i.e. how much will you get tends to be higher.

Remunzo will keep you updated about the settlement status. But you need to be patient because it can take months till the settlement payments are done and you get paid. 

Quickly check your eligibility and compensation amount with our simple data leak checker. In under 2 minutes, you’ll know how much money you can get and will be able to claim compensation. Give it a try!

Impact of Facebook Data Breach on Users

The Facebook data breaches, including the Cambridge Analytica scandal, had profound impacts on users, influencing their trust, privacy perceptions, and online behavior. Users became more conscious of their digital footprint and started questioning the security practices of other social media companies. The incidents fostered a heightened awareness of data privacy issues.

Given Facebook’s global user base, a data breach can have far-reaching consequences. It can affect individuals, businesses, and even the political landscape. Criminals may use stolen information to impersonate individuals, commit fraud, or engage in other malicious activities. Therefore, these can affect not only the users but organizations at large as well. Facebook privacy leaks can be used by opposing countries and terrorist groups to harbor fear and affect the peace and relationships of governments.

With these Facebook data leaks, sensitive data such as names, email addresses, phone numbers, and even personal details are at risk. Many users became more cautious about the information they shared on the platform. Users started reevaluating their engagement with Facebook. Some reduced their activity, while others deleted their accounts altogether as a form of protest or to safeguard their privacy.

Users demanded greater accountability from Facebook. Data breaches fueled the calls for stronger data protection regulations and more transparent practices in the social media and information industry. Users actively sought assurances that their data would be handled responsibly, leading to a broader societal dialogue about digital privacy.

Facebook’s Response and Changes in Data Security

In 2011, Facebook agreed to undergo an independent privacy evaluation every other year for the next two decades. In 2013, Facebook fixed the bug and notified people whose info may have been exposed. An apology tour, policy changes, and compliance with the EU’s data protection law began in 2018. In 2022, Facebook agreed to settle a $725 million settlement for privacy violations in relation to the Cambridge Analytica scandal. These are just among Facebook’s responses to issues concerning users’ data. 

As a response to the Facebook breach of privacy, the company has addressed the data concern incidents diligently throughout the years. Aside from financial litigation, the company considered strengthening the safety of its users. This is done by providing extra layers of safety features that could prevent the Facebook hack from occurring in one way or another.

Meta also became dedicated to providing its users with its privacy policy, as publicly published on its website: “We at Meta want you to understand what information we collect, and how we use and share it. That’s why we encourage you to read our Privacy Policy. This helps you use Meta Products in the way that’s right for you.” The policy ultimately guides its users to further understanding how the social media platform handles or processes users’ data.

Future Implications and Industry Impact

The Facebook data breach, notably the Cambridge Analytica scandal, left a lasting impact on user trust, data regulations, and corporate responsibility. The scandal led to a reevaluation of advertising and targeting practices that relied heavily on user data. This shift led to the implementation of laws such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the European Union and various privacy acts globally. Companies were forced to reassess and enhance their data protection measures to comply with these regulations. 

Overall, Facebook data breach incidents prompted a broader industry-wide reevaluation of business models centered around data collection and monetization. Tech companies were compelled to be more transparent about their data practices and take responsibility for any mishandling. This shift influenced a cultural change in the industry, with companies recognizing the importance of ethical and safe data use.

Other Famous Incidences of Privacy Breaches

Facebook is not the only one who got its data stolen. Hundreds of other companies have faced or will face data breaches in the future. Therefore, we strongly suggest using our Compensation Calculator. This tool will help you find out how many compensation claims you are eligible for and how much money you might get — and we can help you easily get it.

Conclusion

Since 2007, Facebook has been facing various accounts regarding the data privacy of their users. The latest privacy leak happened in 2021, and the company has improved its privacy policies for every issue it has encountered through the years. They responded to data leak issues by means of settlements or compensation, public apologies, and the improvement of their data protection system. Users learned more about the importance of their data privacy while Facebook has further ensured the safety of their users’ data.

The stakes are high, as privacy breaches can lead to reputational damage, financial repercussions, and even psychological distress. Feel free to check your eligibility for compensation if you have been affected by Facebook’s breaches of privacy. Explore your options by gaining insights from this article about the Facebook data leaks. As the use of social media platforms is so common nowadays, awareness about its impact is crucial. That is why we offer informative content about compensation and settlement in case of Facebook data breaches.

Are you missing out on other data breach payouts? Try our compensation calculator and find out now!

CHECK COMPENSATIONS

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources

1. Ahn A. Facebook parent Meta will pay $725M to settle a privacy suit over Cambridge Analytica. NPR [Internet]. 2022 Dec 23; Available from: https://www.npr.org/2022/12/23/1145303268/facebook-meta-cambridge-analytica-privacy-settlement
2. A timeline of Facebook’s privacy issues — and its responses [Internet]. NBC News. 2018. Available from: https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/social-media/timeline-facebook-s-privacy-issues-its-responses-n859651
3. Baig EC. Some Facebook settlement claimants get reject notices [Internet]. AARP. 2023. Available from: https://www.aarp.org/home-family/personal-technology/info-2023/facebook-settlement-money.html
4. Confessore N. Cambridge Analytica and Facebook: the scandal and the fallout so far. The New York Times [Internet]. 2018 Nov 14; Available from: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/04/us/politics/cambridge-analytica-scandal-fallout.html%20%20https://www.theverge.com/2022/11/28/23481786/meta-fine-facebook-data-leak-ireland-dpc-gdpr
5. Duffy, C. & Sahadi, J. Time is running out to file claims for Facebook’s $725 million data privacy settlement. [Internet]. 2023. Available from: https://edition.cnn.com/2023/08/17/business/facebook-privacy-settlement-claim-deadline/index.html
6. Heiligenstein MX. TikTok Data breaches: Full timeline through 2023 [Internet]. Firewall Times. 2023. Available from: https://firewalltimes.com/tiktok-data-breach-timeline/
7. O’Flaherty K. Facebook data breach: Here’s what to do now. Forbes [Internet]. 2021 Apr 6; Available from: https://www.forbes.com/sites/kateoflahertyuk/2021/04/06/facebook-data-breach-heres-what-to-do-now/?sh=53098cb57082