A $7.5 million Google class action settlement resolves allegations that the now defunct Google+ social networking platform exposed users’ private profile data to third-parties. If you had a Google Plus account between Jan. 1, 2015 and April 2, 2019 and had your personal information exposed due to “software bugs” announced on Oct. 8, 2018 and Dec. 10, 2018, you could get up to $12 from this class action settlement.
Full Answer
Did you receive a 'notice of class action settlement' from Google?
In August 2020, some users of Gmail, the Google email service, reported receiving a message with the subject line, “Notice of Class Action Settlement re Google Plus – Your Rights May Be Affected.”
Are Google Plus users eligible for a cash settlement?
According to an August 2020 email, some former Google Plus users were eligible for a cash payment from a 2018 lawsuit settlement after a software issue exposed the private data of up to half a million users of the social network.
What are the options for claimants in the Google Plus data lawsuit?
The website GooglePlusDataLitigation.com also offered options for claimants, which ranged from submitting a claim by Oct. 8, 2020, opting out of the settlement, filing an objection to the settlement, or doing nothing.
Why have I received a notice that I am a settlement class?
You have received this notice because Google’s records indicate that you may be a Settlement Class Member, and you may be eligible to receive a payment from the Settlement. Please visit www.GooglePlusDataLitigation.com for more information.
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Is there a Google class action settlement?
As part of a class-action lawsuit settlement, Google has agreed to pay $90 million to small US developers.
Does Google have a settlement?
Plaintiffs' law firms Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein LLP and Altshuler Berzon LLP announce today that Plaintiffs have reached an agreement with Defendant Google LLC ( “Google”), in which Google will pay $118 million to settle a class action gender discrimination lawsuit, Ellis v.
Should I participate in a class action settlement?
In most cases, it is a good idea to join the class action if you believe you suffered injuries or financial losses caused by the defendant. We do recommend you give us a call and discuss your situation with one of our class action lawsuit attorneys before you make a decision, however.
What is a settlement of class action?
A class-action lawsuit settlement is the proceeds that are received from winning a class-action lawsuit. It is the monetary benefit paid out to the individuals that make up the class-action lawsuit.
How much is the settlement for Google?
Google must pay $400 settlement checks - see if you're eligible to get one.
How can I get $400 on Facebook?
You must have filed a claim form by November 23, 2020 to receive a payout. If you do not remember whether you filed, or if you think there has been a mistake, you can contact one of the following: Settlement Administrator: 1-844-799-2417. Edelson PC, lawyer appointment to the case: 1-866-354-3015.
Is there a downside to joining class action lawsuit?
The risk of a class-action lawsuit is that if you lose, you will not receive any compensation for your injuries. If you win, however, you will receive a financial or other non-monetary award.
What are the disadvantages of joining a class action lawsuit?
Some of the common disadvantages of class action lawsuits include: Lack of decision making control. Class action lawsuits are, by definition, representative rather than group litigation. That means that representatives of the affected class make the important litigation decisions – including when to settle.
What do I do if I receive a class action notice?
The first thing you need to do is to read the notice very carefully and check if the class definition applies to you. The information within the document usually explains the class definition near the beginning of the notice and lays out who is included in the class.
Why did I get a Notice of class action settlement?
If you received a class action notice in the mail, this simply means that your legal rights may be affected by a lawsuit that was recently filed or settled. Notices are sent to people whose rights could be affected by a class action.
How long does it take to get money from a class action settlement?
The answer is typically between one and six weeks after your attorney reaches a settlement or the judge hearing your case awards you monetary damages.
Are class action settlements taxable?
The general rule of taxability for amounts received from settlement of lawsuits and other legal remedies is Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section 61 that states all income is taxable from whatever source derived, unless exempted by another section of the code.
Can I sue Google for selling my information?
Yes, you can sue Google, but only in rare situations. Under federal law, Google cannot be held legally responsible for content posted by third parties. This is called immunity. But Google's immunity is not unlimited.
What is snap settlement?
Snap, the parent company of Snapchat, has reached a $35 million settlement in a class action lawsuit in Illinois. The suit alleges that Snapchat's filters and lenses violated Illinois' Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA), which is a powerful state measure that has tripped up tech companies in recent years.
How do I claim a settlement on Facebook?
You must submit a claim form to qualify for a payment. Anyone who submits a valid claim form by September 22, 2022, can receive settlement money — if their form is approved by the Settlement Administrator. You can submit a claim form online, or download it and mail it to the Settlement Administrator.
How do I write a letter of intent to sue?
How to Fill Out a Letter of Intent to Sue. A letter of intent to sue is usually a single-page letter. It should be written in a respectful manner and include only important details – the illegal activity, actions that can help settle the dispute, and the ways to cover damage to avoid the lawsuit.
How to claim the cash settlement?
Those who are eligible for the cash payout are able to claim up to $12 after you waive the right to future litigation in the case. You will then have until October 8, 2020, to file a claim or to opt-out.
Is Google+ a class action suit?
Good news for the users of the now defunct Google+ social network, you may be eligible for a cash payout as the tech giant is in the process of settling a class-action suit in the U.S.
How much did Google pay for class action lawsuit?
Courtesy of the Google+ Profile Litigation, Google+ users who signed up as a class member following a class action lawsuit are now being paid $2.15 via PayPal or electronic bank-to-bank payment. As part of the settlement that was approved by the court, Google was ordered to pay $7.5 million, a sum that was supposed to cover the legal and administrative costs, with the rest issued to members as a payment. Now, the number of Settlement Class Members stands at 1,720,029, with each one entitled to a measly payout of $2.15. For those that signed as one of the claimants before the October 8 deadline last year, they will receive the settlement payout before August 14, 2021. More importantly, accepting the payout means the affected party will no longer be able to sue Google.
How much did Google pay for a leak?
Google has started paying out $2.15 to users affected by a Google+ data leak, in exchange for their ability to sue the company in the future.
Can developers access Google+?
Developers were reportedly able to access the user information from private Google+ profiles for a long spell between 2015 and 2018, even though Google claims that there were no incidents of data misuse. More importantly, Google chose not to notify users affected by the flaw, which is what invited the class action lawsuit in the first place. The key repercussion of the incident following Google’s eventual disclosure was shutting down Google+ access to consumers citing low user engagement. The company also launched more granular account permissions, updated its user data policy for the Gmail API, and even limited an Android app’s ability to access call logs and SMS permissions.
When did Google Plus receive a notification of class action settlement?
Origin. In August 2020 , some users of Gmail, the Google email service, reported receiving a message with the subject line, “Notice of Class Action Settlement re Google Plus – Your Rights May Be Affected.”.
When did Google Plus close?
Google Plus was shuttered by early 2019.
How much did Google pay in 2020?
In August 2020, some Gmail users received the email from the email address [email protected], alerting them about the June of 2020 lawsuit settlement, which required that Google pay $7.5 million in payments to claimants and other associated fees. Claimants were defined in the email as, “all persons within the United States who (a) had a consumer Google+ account for any period of time between January 1, 2015 and April 2, 2019, and (2) had their non-public Profile Information exposed as a result of the software bugs Google announced.”
Who reached out to Google for confirmation?
Snopes reached out to Google for confirmation, and we will update this post if we receive more information.
Is Google's settlement claim true?
In summary, based on confirmation from Google on multiple platforms about the veracity of the email, and the process of receiving funds from the settlement, we rate this claim as “True.”
Is Google Plus paying for lawsuits?
According to an August 2020 email, some former Google Plus users were eligible for a cash payment from a 2018 lawsuit settlement after a software issue exposed the private data of up to half a million users of the social network.
What was this class action about?
In 2018, Google revealed that the Google+ social media platform, which existed from June 2011 to April 2019, experienced software bugs between 2015 and 2018 that allowed app developers to access certain Google+ profile field information in “an unintended manner.” A proposed class action lawsuit was subsequently filed, just days after the company announced its intention to shut down Google+.
Who can file a claim?
Consumers who had a Google + account for any period of time between January 1, 2015 and April 2, 2019 and had their non-public profile information exposed as a result of the software bugs Google announced on October 8, 2018 and December 10, 2018 may be eligible to file a claim.
Is the email from Google legitimate?
And yes, the email is legitimate (they likely found you via Google’s internal records).
Does Google deny any wrongdoing?
According to the emailed settlement notice, Google “denies Plaintiffs’ allegations, denies any wrongdoing and any liability whatsoever, and believes that no Class Members, including the Plaintiffs, have sustained any damages or injuries due to the software bugs.”
