Meta Settles Cambridge Analytica Lawsuit in Australia for AU$50M, Affects 300,000+ Users

Dec 17, 2024, 06:55 AM

Meta Platforms Inc. has agreed to a AU$50 million settlement with Australia's Information Commissioner over privacy violations linked to the Cambridge Analytica scandal, affecting over 300,000 users. This settlement resolves civil proceedings initiated in 2020, allowing eligible Australian Facebook users to seek compensation through a structured payment program expected to open by mid-2025. The case alleged breaches of the Privacy Act 1988 after user data was improperly shared via the 'This Is Your Digital Life' app. Privacy Commissioner Elizabeth Tydd described the settlement as 'the largest ever payment addressing privacy concerns in Australia.' Meta has settled on a no admission basis, closing a chapter on allegations regarding past practices no longer relevant to how Meta's products or systems work today.