Janice R. Andrews
$31.7 Million to Be Paid to 311,000 Users
The fallout from the Cambridge Analytica scandal continues, as Meta, Facebook’s parent company, has agreed to a $31.7 million settlement (AUD $50 million) with over 311,000 Australian users. This resolution marks the end of a four-year legal battle with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) and follows similar payouts in the U.S., U.K., and other regions.
Australian Information Commissioner Elizabeth Tydd welcomed the settlement, calling it a crucial step in addressing privacy breaches. “It provides affected Australians an avenue for redress and brings a lengthy court process to a close,” she said.
The scandal came to light in 2018 when the now-defunct Cambridge Analytica used the app This Is Your Digital Life to collect personal data. While the app had only a small number of direct downloads, it accessed data from users’ friends, ultimately impacting over 311,000 Australians. The information was used to target individuals with tailored messages, a practice exposed by whistleblower Christopher Wylie.
Under the settlement, Meta will establish a third-party payment system in early 2025. Affected users can apply for compensation starting in Q2 2025, with payouts determined by the level of harm or embarrassment experienced.
Meta described the settlement as a business decision, not an acknowledgment of fault. “Resolving this matter is in the best interest of our community and shareholders, allowing us to move forward,” a spokesperson said.
The case faced delays due to Meta’s argument that it was not conducting business in Australia—a claim ultimately dismissed by the country’s highest court. While Meta seeks to turn the page, the case serves as a stark reminder of the long-lasting impact of the Cambridge Analytica scandal on privacy and corporate responsibility.
