Possible unique UK Facebook Users Could Receive £50 Compensation in Landmark Lawsuit
In a landmark lawsuit, Facebook could be forced to pay out £50 in compensation to each unique UK user affected by the Cambridge Analytica scandal. The lawsuit, which is being brought by campaign group “Facebook You Owe Us,” alleges that Facebook failed to protect the personal data of its users, which was then harvested by Cambridge Analytica for political purposes.
The scandal, which came to light in 2018, saw the data of up to 87 million Facebook users worldwide being harvested without their consent. This data was then used to create targeted political advertising during the 2016 US presidential election and the Brexit referendum.
The lawsuit, which is being heard in the High Court in London, is seeking compensation for all UK Facebook users who were affected by the scandal. This could potentially include up to 44 million people, although the exact number is yet to be determined.
If successful, the lawsuit could see Facebook paying out a total of £2.2 billion in compensation to UK users. However, Facebook has argued that the case has no merit and that there is no evidence that any UK users suffered harm as a result of the data breach.
Despite this, the case is being closely watched by privacy campaigners and tech companies alike. It could set a precedent for future cases involving data breaches and could lead to greater accountability for tech companies when it comes to protecting user data.
In the wake of the Cambridge Analytica scandal, Facebook has made a number of changes to its data policies and has introduced new tools to help users control their privacy settings. However, the company still faces criticism over its handling of user data and its role in the spread of misinformation on its platform.
The outcome of the lawsuit is expected to be announced in the coming months. If successful, it could see Facebook paying out significant sums to UK users and could lead to greater scrutiny of the company’s data practices in the future.
