COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – If you had a Patreon account, you may be eligible for payment from a new class action settlement that alleged the company disclosed subscribers’ information to Facebook owner Meta.
Patreon will pay $7.25 million across users who had accounts and accessed videos on Patreon.com between April 1, 2016 and Sept. 23, 2024. The subscription-based content creator platform said the payments will likely amount to between $35 and $175 per eligible user, and a final sum will be announced once all claims are filed.
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Patreon users who want to file a claim for payment must do so by Jan. 15. Claims can be filed online, and will require users to provide their Facebook profiles to verify if they are eligible. The form also asks users to promise under oath that they accessed video content while they had an active Facebook account.
Patreon users have three other options: Do nothing, exclude themselves or object to the settlement. Those who do nothing will be bound by the settlement, so they will not receive money and will not be allowed to sue. Anyone who objects to the settlement may speak at the Final Approval Hearing at their own expense, which will be held in February. To object or opt out of the settlement, users can file online by Jan. 15, 2025.
According to the lawsuit, Patreon allegedly violated the Video Privacy Protection Act by disclosing subscribers’ identities and video preferences without consent through Meta Pixel. Meta Pixel is a code for websites that tracks users’ information for targeted advertising. Patreon denies the allegations and said the payment was an agreement, not an admission of guilt.
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As part of the settlement, Patreon also agreed not to operate Meta Pixel on any Patreon website unless the Video Privacy Protection Act is amended or invalidated, Patreon gets consent or Meta’s program otherwise complies with the privacy law.
Anyone with an active Patreon account between April 2016 and Sept. 23, 2024, is eligible to file a claim. Users who think they qualify can file claims here.