Many Facebook users have the potential to seek compensation.
Folks unaffected by expectation, but following a data breach at Meta, German Facebook users now have an opportunity for compensation. They can participate in a class action lawsuit by the German Federation of Consumer Organizations.
Soon, individuals impacted by a major data hack on Facebook a few years ago will have an easy avenue to seek compensation without expense. Millions of affected individuals in Germany could join a class action lawsuit against the social media giant's parent company, Meta, as announced by the German Federation of Consumer Organizations in Berlin. This action could potentially halt any expiring consumer claims as the new year approaches.
The catalyst for this situation stems from an incident in 2021: Unidentified individuals publicly released data from around 533 million Facebook users across 106 countries online. In Germany, around six million individuals are believed to be affected. Thousands of lawsuits were filed in this country alone, with Meta winning numerous cases while maintaining the lawsuits were without merit.
However, the conditions for claiming damages remained problematic for quite a while. In mid-November, the German Federal Court of Justice (BGH) ruled that merely being among the data theft victims was sufficient proof. It is not essential to demonstrate that data was misused or provide evidence of additional harm, such as fear and worry.
Guiding 100 Euro Compensation
Nonetheless, the damages for the mere loss of control cannot be excessively high, according to the presiding judge in Karlsruhe, citing 100 Euro as an example. If individuals are also psychologically affected, this factor should be considered and the compensation adjusted accordingly.
Those interested in joining the association's model declaratory action are advised to wait until the new year, as the Federal Office of Justice needs to first create the register of claims. Subscribing to the association's news alert will ensure individuals stay informed about any updates.
The ongoing data breach at Meta, affecting millions of Facebook users in Germany, includes the economy as a potential area of impact. Businesses and individuals relying on social media advertising might experience changes due to reduced user trust and potential decreased engagement.
Furthermore, as German Facebook users have the opportunity to seek compensation for being part of the data breach, the economy could show signs of recovery if affected individuals receive the proposed 100 Euro compensation, thereby possibly boosting consumer confidence.
