Meta, Facebook's parent company, is entangled in another legal battle, this time facing a potential $37.5 million settlement for allegedly tracking Facebook users' locations without their consent. This follows a separate $725 million settlement earlier this year related to user privacy violations. This latest lawsuit, filed in San Francisco federal court, claims Meta tracked users through IP addresses even when location services were disabled on their devices. While Meta denies wrongdoing, they've agreed to the settlement, pending court approval.

The settlement covers U.S. Facebook users who had location services turned off on their iOS or Android devices between January 30, 2015, and April 18, 2018. Eligible users must submit a claim by August 11, 2023. Final court approval is scheduled for October 19, 2023. If approved, the settlement will be distributed to valid claimants. However, if the volume of claims is too high, the funds will be donated to non-profit organizations.

Those who believe they are eligible but do not want to participate can object to the settlement by October 5, 2023. To file a claim, visit the designated settlement website. Meta's response emphasizes their commitment to user privacy and highlights their recent efforts to revamp their privacy practices.

This settlement underscores the ongoing challenges faced by large tech companies regarding user privacy. While Meta claims to be prioritizing privacy, their repeated involvement in such lawsuits raises concerns. It remains to be seen whether stronger regulations are needed to ensure user data protection in the evolving digital landscape.

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