Record $725M Social Media Data Privacy Settlement Wins Final Approval

After nearly five years of litigation, a Northern District of California judge granted final approval to a $725 million settlement resolving claims that a major social media platform allowed third-party developers to harvest user data without adequate disclosures. The class covers U.S. users active on the platform during a roughly decade-long window. Claim forms are expected to open within 60 days, with per-user payouts dependent on claim volume and length of account tenure. Privacy advocates called the approval a watershed, while defense analysts emphasized the structural reforms baked into the deal, including expanded developer audits and clearer consent interfaces.