Thu Sep 11 17:40:00 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary and news article based on the provided text:

**Summary:**

Facebook (Meta) is beginning to distribute payments to millions of U.S. users as part of a $725 million settlement resolving claims that the company mishandled user data. The settlement stems from lawsuits filed after the Cambridge Analytica scandal, alleging Facebook allowed third parties unauthorized access to user information. While Meta denies wrongdoing, it settled to avoid a trial. Individuals in the U.S. who used Facebook between May 24, 2007, and Dec. 22, 2022, were eligible to file a claim by Aug. 25, 2023. Payouts have already started, but users will receive a relatively small amount after legal fees and other expenses are deducted. The amount each user receives is based on how long they used Facebook during the eligible period.
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**News Article:**

**Facebook Begins Distributing Settlement Payments to Millions of Users Over Data Privacy Claims**

**By [Your Name or News Outlet Name]**

Millions of Facebook users across the United States are beginning to receive settlement payments as part of a landmark $725 million agreement resolving allegations that the social media giant misused their data. The settlement, reached in December 2022, addresses claims that Facebook allowed third parties to access user information without proper consent.

The lawsuits consolidated into one filing in 2018 and years of proceedings followed. They were triggered by the 2018 Cambridge Analytica scandal, in which the marketing firm obtained data on millions of Facebook users and allegedly used it to target voters during the 2016 presidential election. Plaintiffs alleged that Facebook shared user data without consent to third parties such as app developers, business partners, advertisers and data brokers, then failed to monitor use of the data.

U.S. Facebook users who had an account between May 24, 2007, and Dec. 22, 2022, were eligible to file a claim, with the deadline passing on Aug. 25, 2023. According to the settlement website, anyone who did not file by the deadline will not receive a payment. Distribution of the payments has begun as of Sept. 9. Approved users will receive an email notification three to four days before payment is issued. Due to the large number of payments, they will be distributed in waves over a 75-day period, per court filings.

Meta, Facebook’s parent company, has denied any wrongdoing but agreed to settle to avoid the “uncertainties, burden, expense, and delay” of a lengthy trial. “Meta denies the allegations in the suit, but moved to settle the case to avoid uncertainties, burden, expense, and delay if the case continued, according to court documents.”

However, users should expect a relatively modest payout. From the $725 million, roughly $180 million is allocated for attorney’s fees and nearly $4 million to other costs. In addition, $120,000 will be divided among the eight lead settlement class representatives, or plaintiffs. The remaining $541 million will be distributed to approved claimants based on “allocation points” which are determined by how long a user was on the platform during the eligibility period.

[Optional: Quote from legal expert about the significance of the settlement and its potential impact on future data privacy cases.]

While the individual payouts may be small, the settlement underscores the growing scrutiny of how tech companies handle user data and the potential consequences of violating user privacy.

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