There’s $50 million on the table, and more than 300,000 Aussies are eligible for a piece. Could you get your share too?

Australia's biggest-ever privacy payout is now available to claim, and you might be one of the thousands eligible for compensation.

Meta, the parent company of Facebook, agreed to a $50 million settlement with Australia's privacy regulator.

The settlement could be the largest payment ever made to address privacy concerns for individuals in Australia.

The massive payout stems from the Cambridge Analytica scandal, where personal Facebook data may have been harvested without users' knowledge and potentially used to influence political campaigns.

If you were a Facebook user between November 2013 and December 2015, you could be in line for compensation.

Here's everything you need to know about claiming your share before the December 31 deadline.

The Cambridge Analytica scandal

Cambridge Analytica was a British consulting firm that collected personal data from millions of Facebook users without their permission.

This information was then used predominantly for political advertising, including United States President Donald Trump's campaign and the Brexit movement.

The scandal unfolded when it emerged that a personality quiz app called 'This Is Your Digital Life' was used to extract personal information from Facebook users.

While only 53 Australians directly installed this app, more than 311,000 Australian Facebook users were affected because the app could also access data from the friends of those who installed it.

This information was exposed to the risk of disclosure to Cambridge Analytica and other third parties, and risked being used for political profiling purposes.

Essentially, your personal details, preferences, and social connections may have been used to create detailed profiles for targeted political advertising, all without consent.

Are you eligible for compensation?

The eligibility criteria are straightforward, and you don't need to have directly installed the problematic app to qualify.

• You're eligible if you had a Facebook account between November 2, 2013, and December 17, 2015.

• You were physically present in Australia for more than 30 days during the said period.

• Either you installed the 'This Is Your Digital Life' app, or you were Facebook friends with someone who did.

Over 311,000 Australians are eligible to claim, with the deadline for applications set at December 31, 2025.

If you're unsure whether you or your friends used the app, Facebook has set up a help page where you can check your eligibility.

How much can you receive from the settlement?

The compensation includes a base payment for general data privacy exposure, plus a higher tier payment for users who can show personal loss, harm, or distress caused by the breach.

The exact amount each person receives will depend on the number of people who register for the compensation program and the payment tier for which they qualify.

Meta is required to set up an independent, two-tier payment scheme administered by KPMG Australia.

While the specific dollar amounts haven't been disclosed, individual payments could range from hundreds to potentially thousands of dollars, depending on your tier and the total number of successful claims.

Beware of scammers targeting this payout

Unfortunately, scammers are already trying to exploit this compensation program.

The Australian Information Commissioner has issued strong warnings about fraudulent offers to help with obtaining payments.

If you think you've been targeted by scammers throughout the application process, contact your bank immediately and report the incident to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission's Scamwatch.

Any unclaimed funds from the $50 million settlement will be directed to the Commonwealth consolidated revenue fund.

The settlement case across the world

Australia's $50 million settlement is significant in our context, but it's worth noting the global scale of this scandal.

The US Federal Trade Commission settled with Meta for a record-breaking US$5 billion.

Meanwhile, the UK privacy regulator fined Facebook £500,000 (approximately A$997,167).

Interestingly, when the US$5 billion settlement was announced in 2019, Facebook's share price actually increased, highlighting how profitable these tech giants are despite massive penalties.

Why this settlement matters for you

This settlement represents more than just compensation—it's a landmark moment for digital privacy rights in Australia.

Since the original Cambridge Analytica incident, penalties for serious privacy breaches have increased dramatically, from $1.7 million to whichever is greater of $50 million, three times any benefit obtained, or 30 per cent of a company's adjusted turnover.

With just over two months remaining until the December 31 deadline, now is the time to check your eligibility and submit your claim.

This is likely to be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to receive compensation for the misuse of your personal data.

Have you checked whether you're eligible for this compensation? Have you encountered any scammers trying to exploit this payout? Share your experiences and help keep fellow Aussies safe in the comments below.