Ace Breaking News – In short: Meta has agreed to a landmark $50 million settlement with Australia’s information commissioner. The Cambridge Analytica scandal saw Meta unlawfully release the personal data of millions of Facebook users.
@acenewsservices
What’s next?
Meta will appoint an independent third-party administrator by early next year to notify users who may be eligible.
Facebook users in Australia could receive a payout after Meta agreed to a historic $50 million settlement with the nation’s information commissioner.
The payment to the Australian Information Commissioner announced on Tuesday will be open to users impacted by the Cambridge Analytica scandal.
The controversy saw the social media giant unlawfully release the personal data of millions of Facebook users worldwide — including Australians — almost a decade ago.
The agreement will end the legal proceedings as part of the Federal Court action launched by the commissioner in 2020.
Australian Information Commissioner Elizabeth Tydd said the settlement was the “largest ever payment” dedicated to addressing the privacy concerns in Australia.
“It represents a substantive resolution of privacy concerns raised by the Cambridge Analytica matter, gives potentially affected Australians an opportunity to seek redress through Meta’s payment program, and brings to an end a lengthy court process,” she said.
It comes after Meta agreed to pay $US725 million (about $1 billion) to resolve a class action lawsuit in 2022 over the scandal in the US.
The commissioner has alleged that the company breached privacy laws by giving the personal information of some Australian Facebook users to the This is Your Digital Life app.
Commissioner Tydd argued the information was exposed to the political consulting firm Cambridge Analytica and risked being used for political profiling.
A spokesperson for Meta said the company settled on a no-admissions basis.
Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta will appoint a third-party administrator by early next year to notify eligible users. (Getty: Alex Wong)normal
“It is in the best interest of our community and shareholders that we close this chapter on allegations that relate to past practices no longer relevant to how Meta’s products or systems work today,” the statement read.
“We look forward to continuing to build services Australians love and trust with privacy at the forefront.”
Who will be eligible for payment?
According to the regulator, the scheme will be open to individuals who:
- Held a Facebook account between November 2, 2013, and December 17, 2015
- Were present in Australia for more than 30 days during that period
- Installed the This is Your Digital Life app or were Facebook friends with an individual who installed the app
The payment scheme will be structured into two tiers of payments.
It will allow individuals to apply for a base payment if they believe they experienced concern because of the matter and will also provide higher payments to those who can demonstrate they have suffered loss or damage.
Meta is expected to work with an independent third-party administrator, which will be appointed early next year, to notify users who may be eligible.
The payment program is expected to open by mid next year. (AP: Jenny Kane)normal
The commissioner’s office expects applications to the payment program to open by mid-2025.
Commissioner Tydd said the payment demonstrated that all entities operating in Australia had to be transparent and accountable in the way they handle personal information.
Privacy Commissioner Carly Kind said the commissioner’s office was committed to ensuring that Australians’ privacy was protected.
“This groundbreaking outcome reflects the significant concerns of the Australian community,” she said.
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