Judge Likely to Approve Class Action Against Meta Over Hacked Facebook Accounts
A judge indicated a class action against Meta over hacked Facebook accounts will likely proceed.
Why it matters: This case highlights critical privacy and consumer protection issues that tech companies face regarding user data and security. Meta’s litigation history signals heightened risks for firms handling personal information.
- July 16, 2026, judge signaled likely class certification phase for lawsuit against Meta.
- Lawsuit alleges Meta intentionally blocked users from recovering hacked Facebook accounts.
- Meta sued for profiting off personal data by restricting account recovery access.
- Meta settled two major data privacy lawsuits in April 2025 totaling $815 million.
- $725 million settlement related to Cambridge Analytica, the largest data privacy class action.
On July 16, 2026, a federal judge indicated it is likely that the class certification phase will advance in a lawsuit against Meta Platforms Inc. alleging the company intentionally blocked users from regaining access to hacked Facebook accounts. Plaintiffs claim Meta did so to maintain control over users’ personal data and continue profiting from it. This legal development was reported by Courthouse News.
Meta’s legal troubles with data privacy are longstanding. In April 2025, Meta agreed to pay a record-setting $725 million to settle a class action over the Cambridge Analytica scandal, where user data was improperly accessed for political advertising. Plaintiffs’ co-lead attorneys called it “a historic settlement” providing meaningful relief to affected users (Courthouse News).
That same month, Meta began distributing payments from a separate $90 million settlement concerning improper data collection via the Facebook 'Like' button on third-party websites (WTVM).
The new lawsuit alleging intentional blockage of hacked account recovery adds to mounting scrutiny over Meta’s data practices and user security. It underscores ongoing regulatory and litigation risks for tech platforms that hold vast amounts of personal data. The case could have broad implications for consumer protection and the responsibilities of digital platforms in safeguarding user access.
By the numbers:
- $725 million — largest data privacy settlement to date for Cambridge Analytica case
- $90 million — settlement for improper data collection via Facebook 'Like' button
- July 16, 2026 — judge signaled likely move to class certification phase