Meta to Settle $37.5M on Facebook’s Location Tracking Feud, Now Waiting for Judge’s Approval

Isaiah Richard, Tech Times 23 August 2022, 09:08 pm

Meta is to settle another lawsuit in court, and it reached $37.5 million for the prosecuting party, which raised the complaints against Facebook's location tracking dispute earlier this year. There was proof that Facebook and Meta are still tracking users even after logging out of the application, which led to this massive case.

The lawsuit is near its conclusion, and Meta agrees to settle on the price but still awaits the judge's approval.

Meta to Settle $37.5M on Facebook's Location Tracking Feud

(Photo : Unsplash/Austin Distel)

According to CNET's report, court documents from the recent lawsuit show that Meta already agrees with the settlement price of $37.5 million for the affected users who had their location known to Facebook. The company did not yet pay the agreed price as it still awaits the judge's approval for the lawsuit payment.

The money would go to users in the United States who used Facebook after January 30, 2015. It has been a significant time for the company since its start, covering many affected users to receive the payout.

Facebook violated a California law that prevents companies from tracking the locations of its users, with lawmakers shedding light on the social media company's actions for years.

Will Facebook Still Track Users After Logout?

A 2018 court document from the US Congress explained why Facebook is tracking the public's locations. CEO Mark Zuckerberg claimed that it is for advertisers to "reach people in particular areas." According to CNN, users do not want Facebook to track their locations, the main reason they log out after every app use.

Settlements mean that Facebook is not necessarily owning up to the charges against them but would pay affected users for what happened. However, it is in the company's best interests not to violate the law again and focus on making Facebook a safe platform that does not track user locations.

Meta and Facebook's Recent Lawsuits

Meta faced significant lawsuits and complaints for over a month, and its most recent includes that of the Meta name that Mark Zuckerberg's company allegedly took from another entity. The company called Meta.is already had the "Meta" name for 12 years, starting its corporation in 2010 and is now prosecuting Meta Facebook for the dispute.

Another significant lawsuit last month was the FTC Antitrust lawsuit against Meta for its supposed acquisition of the VR company known as "Within," which the company filed for its purchase. The Federal Trade Commission argued that Meta already has a significant presence in the VR world, and its acquisition of the new company would only take out competitors in the industry.

Now, this latest lawsuit against Facebook and Meta is near reaching its conclusion, and a settlement is to take place soon if judges approve the price and the proceedings continue. Nevertheless, Meta already agrees to the payment, and the company may soon pay it out to finish the case for both parties and avoid a hefty trial.

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Written by Isaiah Richard