Fraley v. Facebook: Yes, It’s Legit and Not a Hoax

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Over the holidays many people seem to have either gotten notices of the Fraley vs Facebook settlement, or Fraley versus Facebook has otherwise been brought to their attention. Many people are wondering whether Fraley vs Facebook is a hoax, or hoping to find that Fraley v. Facebook is legit. Well, we’re here to tell you that it’s legit. Read on.

As we first reported earlier this year, the Fraley vs Facebook lawsuit is about Facebook using their users in advertising, particularly in the so-called ‘sponsored stories’. The issue is that Facebook didn’t have the informed consent of their users, and sometimes even minors were used without their parent’s consent.

So a class action lawsuit was filed, and now Facebook has settled with the class. Recently a website was put up (presumably by the attorneys involved) specifically dealing with the lawsuit, and this is what they have to say:

Overview of the Proposed Settlement

Fraley, et al. v. Facebook, Inc., et al., Case No. CV-11-01726 RS

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If you or your child have or have had a Facebook account and a Facebook Sponsored Story featured your or your child’s name or profile picture, you or your child may be a “Class Member” in a class action lawsuit (the “Action”).

Sponsored Stories are a form of advertising that typically contain posts which appear on facebook.com about or from a Facebook user or entity that a business, organization, or individual has paid to promote so there is a better chance that the posts will be seen by the user or entity’s chosen audience. For more information about Sponsored Stories, please review the Notice.

A class action lawsuit against Facebook, Inc. (“Facebook”) claimed that Facebook unlawfully used Class Members’ names, profile pictures, photographs, likenesses, and identities to advertise or sell products and services through Sponsored Stories, without obtaining Class Members’ consent. Facebook denies any wrongdoing and any liability whatsoever. No court or other entity has made any judgment or other determination of any liability.

What Relief Does the Settlement Provide to Class Members?

Facebook has agreed to:

Pay $20 million into a fund that can be used, in part, to pay claims of Class Members (including Minor Subclass Members) who appeared in a Sponsored Story. Each participating Class Member may be eligible to receive up to $10. The amount, if any, paid to each Authorized Claimant depends upon the number of claims made. No one knows in advance how much each Authorized Claimant will receive, or whether any money will be paid directly to Authorized Claimants. If the number of claims made renders it economically infeasible to pay money to persons who make a timely and valid claim, payment will be made to the not-for-profit organizations identified in Section 7 of the Notice. These organizations are involved in educational outreach that teaches adults and children how to use social media technologies safely, or are involved in research of social media, with a focus on critical thinking around advertising and commercialization, and particularly with protecting the interests of children.

Revise its terms of service (known as the “Statement of Rights and Responsibilities”) relating to Sponsored Stories.

Give users (and minor users’ parents or legal guardians) additional information about and control over the use of their (and their children’s) names and profile pictures in Sponsored Stories.

For more information, see the website at www.fraleyfacebooksettlement.com.

For those curious, the attorneys for the plaintiffs are Jonathan Jaffe, and and the Arns Law Firm. Jaffe is now involved in a [destination content has been removed at other end :~( ].

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12 thoughts on “Fraley v. Facebook: Yes, It’s Legit and Not a Hoax

  1. How can it not be a scam when at the end of filling out info they want your bank acount info and routing numbers? I been involved in class action before and NEVER furnished this information,just got a check in the mail.

  2. Salley, you don’t have to give the attorney’s your checking account info for payment, that’s just if you want it direct deposited. You can have them mail you a check instead, that’s what I chose.

  3. What I want to know is HOW my picture was used. I don’t care that they used my picture or name but I want to know how or in what sponsor ad it was used.

  4. You know, I reported this issue to Facebook over a year or two ago. I never thought to sue over it.

    I had a game pop up in the side of my Facebook page.. it said “XXX Plays Suchandsuchgame” — The game had something to do with MTV I believe.. I clicked the game and it flashed really quick and went away.

    I took a screen shot the next time it popped up and asked my friend, she said she never played or heard of it before.

    For fear I had just been taken for a virus or something I formatted my computer and re-installed Windows.

  5. NOBODY gets my routing number and bank info online. Period. I don’t intend to join the lawsuit if that’s needed. It’s worth more than the measly $10 to protect my stuff. No thanks.

  6. wow the lawyers get over 7.5 million dollars the main complainants get a total of $37k and you might get 10.00 from Facebook. looks more like law suit fraud to me. throw the lawyers out and make them pay the court fees!

  7. People will sue over anything. Keep my $10! When you put any personal info or pictures on the Internet, you know the risks. In the end we all pay the price for these lawsuits. How do companies recover from large payouts??? By increasing their prices/rates.

  8. You give your permission for them to use your likes and things you put on facebook the second you accept the terms of agreements when making your account

  9. I’m gonna go easy on em and let them keep my up-to-$10. Next time though…If they tell people that I was interested in an organization like UNICEF, oh so help me…NOW I HAVE TO LIVE UP TO MY LIKES!

  10. After compiling a profile on the website they directed me to anther page that wanted banking info ????? BEWARE

  11. I didn’t give anyone permission to use mine or my husband’s name or our pictures in anything!!!

  12. i didnt give them perminision to use any of my photos or times i ckicked the like button for something post on my page but i have seen photos of my pets appear on other pages for people to click like on and also some of my comments to my fiends, i have been hacked several times by face book to receave personal infomation.

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