Eligible Australian Facebook users impacted by the Cambridge Analytica matter have until 31 December 2025 to register under a payment program established in a landmark settlement with Australia’s Information Commissioner.
The $50 million payment program was established by Meta Platforms as part of an enforceable undertaking the Australian Information Commissioner accepted from Meta in December 2024. This brings to an end 7 years of investigation and litigation related to the Cambridge Analytica matter in Australia.
More than 300,000 Australians are eligible for a payment under the program, which is being administered by KPMG as an independent administrator. Individuals can apply directly at: www.facebookpaymentprogram.com.au.
The OAIC does not have a role in administering the scheme.
Scam warning
Scammers may attempt to use this announcement to obtain personal information. If you receive a call from anyone offering to help with a payment or refund, hang up immediately.
Never share personal information with anyone contacting you unexpectedly and never give remote access to your computer or bank account to someone you don’t know. Additionally, never click on links or open attachments in texts or emails you weren’t expecting.
If you have shared information with a scammer or lost money, contact your bank immediately. Report scams to Scamwatch.
Background
- The Australian Information Commissioner has agreed to a $50 million payment program as part of an enforceable undertaking (EU) received from Meta Platforms, Inc. (Meta) to settle civil penalty proceedings in the Federal Court. The payment scheme will be open to eligible Australian Facebook users impacted by the Cambridge Analytica matter.
- In the Federal Court proceedings, the Commissioner alleged that the personal information of some Australian Facebook users was disclosed to the This is Your Digital Life app in breach of the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth). The information was exposed to the risk of disclosure to Cambridge Analytica and other third parties and risked being used for political profiling purposes.
- The Information Commissioner accepted the Enforceable Undertaking in December 2024 following a court-ordered mediation, as part of the Federal Court civil penalty proceedings the Commissioner commenced in March 2020.
- Any residual funds not exhausted in the payment scheme will be paid into the Commonwealth’s Consolidated Revenue Fund. Meta also paid a contribution to the Commissioner’s legal costs.
