Facebook (Meta)’s violation of its users’ privacy rights
Over the last decade, Facebook. violated its users’ privacy rights by providing access to their personal and private information to third parties without those users’ knowledge and/or consent. This practice has impacted hundreds of millions of users and has permitted Facebook to grow its business and generate important profits for the company.
The proposed class action all persons in Quebec who had a Facebook account during the period from July 27, 2012 to present. In doing so, the plaintiffs allege that Facebook violated the rights of class members under the Quebec Charter of human rights and freedoms, the Consumer Protection Act, the Civil Code of Quebec, Quebec’s private sector privacy legislation, and in contract.
As a result, the proposed class action seeks punitive damages in order to sanction Facebook for its wrongful conduct and to deter future breaches of users’ rights.
Latest News
On December 20, 2024, the plaintiff filed an Application to Approve a Settlement Agreement and the Plaintiff’s Attorneys’ Fees.
The parties have agreed to a settlement agreement, which will be presented for approval to the Quebec Superior Court on February 11, 2025 in room 17.09 at 9:15 am. For more information, please consult the Notice to members.
The settlement agreement provides, if approved, for payment of the sum of $9,000,000 by the defendant, from which will be deducted the plaintiff’s attorneys’ fees of 25% plus taxes, as well as certain costs and disbursements. This sum would be dedicated to funding research and teaching activities aimed at promoting and protecting privacy rights in Quebec at certain of the province’s public universities.
The details of this agreement are outlined in the Notice to Members, as well as in the Application for Approval of the Settlement and Legal Fees (French only).
Proactio, class action administrator, has been mandated to distribute the Notice to members in the following ways
– by text message with telephone number 858Pro (858776) and;
– by e-mail with address [email protected]
You have until February 7, 2025, to object in writing to the settlement agreement, submit comments or exclude yourself from the class action under the terms specified in the notice to members. An Opting Out Form can be found here.
History of the case
On October 27, 2020, Stuart Thiel and Brianna Thicke filed an amended Application for Authorization to Institute a Class Action against Facebook Inc.
On February 19, 2021, Justice Davis of the Superior Court rejected Facebook’s application for permission to introduce an affidavit from one of its Vice-Presidents denying many of the allegations made in the plaintiffs’ application for authorization.
In that judgment, the Court defined the class as follows:
All persons in Quebec who had a Facebook account during the period from July 27, 2012 to present.
On November 19, 2021, the plaintiffs filed an Originating Application in the Superior Court.
Are You a Member?
You are covered by this class action if you meet the following criteria :
All persons in Quebec who had a Facebook account during the period from July 27, 2012 to present.
The members are jointly represented by TJL and Charney Lawyers.