Meta Agrees to Huge Payout for Aussies Affected by Scandal
Meta will pay $50 million to Australians impacted by the Cambridge Analytica scandal, settling a long-running privacy dispute.
Meta, Australia, Cambridge Analytica, Privacy Act, Facebook, Settlement
Melbourne: So, here’s the scoop. Meta, the big tech company behind Facebook and Instagram, has agreed to fork over $50 million to Australians who were affected by the Cambridge Analytica mess. This all comes after a long legal battle with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner, which started back in March 2020.
The OAIC claimed that personal info from Aussie Facebook users was mishandled and shared with the This is Your Digital Life app, which was a big no-no under the Privacy Act. They said this info was at risk of being used for political profiling, which is pretty shady.
Cambridge Analytica, the company at the center of this scandal, was known for improperly accessing data from millions of Facebook users to target them with political ads. They shut down in 2018, but the fallout continues.
Now, as part of this settlement, Meta will set up a payment program managed by an independent third party. There will be two types of payments: one for folks who felt general concern or embarrassment, and another for those who can prove they suffered actual losses.
If you had a Facebook account between November 2013 and December 2025 and were in Australia for over 30 days during that time, you might be eligible. The OAIC expects people can start applying for these payments in 2025.
Australian Information Commissioner Elizabeth Tydd emphasized that this settlement shows the importance of transparency and accountability in handling personal data. She wants to ensure that Australians feel safe when sharing their info.
A Meta spokesperson said settling was in the best interest of their community and shareholders, and they’re looking forward to moving on and improving their services with privacy in mind.