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Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →No blanket payout has started. The headline refers to Facebook’s 2018–2019 scraping incident and later German court proceedings—not a new order giving every affected user cash.
In a November 18, 2024 decision (case VI ZR 10/24), Germany’s Federal Court of Justice (BGH) held that losing control of personal data can itself be compensable non-material damage under Article 82 of the GDPR. It treated €100 as appropriate in the individual case before it, but did not award €100 automatically to all users.
The German representative action brought by Verbraucherzentrale Bundesverband (vzbv) remained unresolved as of August 18, 2026. On June 24, 2026, the Hamburg Higher Regional Court referred legal questions to the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU). Any payment still depends on the outcome of those proceedings or a separate individual claim.
What happened in the Facebook incident?
During 2018 and 2019, unauthorized parties used automated methods to collect and match telephone numbers with information visible from Facebook profiles. This is more precisely described as scraping: mass collection through platform functions or systems, rather than proof that Facebook passwords or private messages were stolen.
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The scale became publicly prominent in 2021, when millions of records were published or offered online. The vzbv’s case information describes risks including nuisance calls and messages, phishing, fraud attempts and identity theft. The incident does not establish that every listed field was private or that every Facebook account was compromised.
What the BGH actually decided
The BGH’s November 18, 2024 ruling in VI ZR 10/24 concerned an individual claimant whose information included a telephone number, name, Facebook user ID and employment or workplace information. The court’s reasoning, reported in its decision materials, established that:
- A claimant need not always prove a specific financial loss.
- Loss of control over personal data can constitute compensable non-material damage under Article 82 GDPR.
- The assessment depends on the facts and evidence in the particular case.
The decision is a significant legal basis for later claims, but it was not a collective order requiring Meta Platforms Ireland Limited to pay every potentially affected person. Read the decision summary at curia.europa.eu.
Does every affected user get €100?
No. €100 was the compensation benchmark the BGH considered appropriate in the claimant’s case. Consumer advocates also rely on that figure in the representative action, but it is not a guaranteed universal award.
The vzbv’s filed applications seek findings that qualifying loss of control over a telephone number and associated profile data should attract at least €100. They also request proposed additions for certain other exposed fields:
| Data category | Amount sought by vzbv | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Email address | €100 | Requested finding in the litigation, not an award |
| Birth date | €100 | Requested finding in the litigation, not an award |
| Residence or location | €100 | Requested finding in the litigation, not an award |
| Relationship status | €200 | Requested finding in the litigation, not an award |
These positions appear in the vzbv’s representative-action application. A final amount could differ, and additional documented financial or psychological harm would require individual assessment.
Who may be covered by the German action?
The vzbv describes the likely group as consumers who:
- permanently lived in Germany;
- had a private Facebook profile in 2018 and/or 2019; and
- had supplied Facebook with a telephone number that may have been linked to profile information.
Those are potential eligibility indicators, not a final determination for any individual. The action is not presented as open to every Facebook user worldwide. People who lived outside Germany, including users with German telephone numbers but foreign residence, should check the applicable jurisdiction separately.
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- Read the current eligibility and case instructions on the vzbv Facebook proceedings page.
- Register your claim in the official German Klageregister maintained by the Bundesamt für Justiz, using the live register and its current instructions.
- Enter complete, accurate information and retain the registration confirmation.
- Keep relevant records, such as historical telephone numbers, Facebook security emails, old profile information and evidence of suspicious calls, messages or fraud.
- Monitor the official register for later procedural deadlines, including any final opportunity to register or withdraw.
The vzbv says valid registration protects claims from limitation during the representative action. Deadlines can change as the case progresses, so do not rely on an old social-media post or an intermediary’s advertisement.
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What happens next?
The Hamburg Higher Regional Court referred questions to the CJEU on June 24, 2026. A referral asks the EU’s highest court to clarify legal questions; it is not a ruling that Meta must pay and it does not set each user’s compensation.
After the CJEU answers, the German court must apply that guidance. The case could then proceed to a judgment, settlement or further appeals. The referral may lengthen the timetable, and the collective proceedings were not finally resolved as of August 18, 2026.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Joining the representative action or suing individually
Representative action
- Advantages: no immediate need to run an individual lawsuit; the vzbv presents the collective case; valid registration may preserve the claim during the proceedings.
- Limits: no immediate payment, no guaranteed amount, less control over timing and strategy, and potentially a lengthy process.
Individual claim
The BGH ruling improves the legal argument for an individual claim, but success can still depend on proving that the claimant’s data was affected, limitation, causation, procedure and costs. A person with documented fraud, harassment, financial loss or serious psychological consequences may have arguments for more than a basic loss-of-control award, but the facts must be proved.
Joining the representative action and filing an individual lawsuit are not interchangeable choices. Overlapping proceedings can have procedural consequences; obtain advice from a German-qualified lawyer before pursuing both.
Practical protection against follow-on scams
- Treat unexpected calls, texts, WhatsApp messages, emails and password-reset prompts as suspicious.
- Never disclose one-time authentication codes.
- Use unique passwords, a password manager and multi-factor authentication on email, banking and social accounts.
- Review account-recovery phone numbers and email addresses.
- Contact a bank or provider through a number you independently verify if fraud is suspected.
- Report identity theft or attempted fraud to the police and the affected provider.
Use the official vzbv and Bundesamt für Justiz routes. Be wary of sites promising immediate Facebook compensation in exchange for identity documents, upfront fees or a percentage of an uncertain recovery.
Bottom line: legal opportunity, not an automatic cheque
German Facebook users who had private accounts, supplied telephone numbers and permanently lived in Germany may be able to claim compensation connected with the 2018–2019 scraping incident. The BGH’s €100 benchmark makes loss-of-control claims easier to argue, but it is not a universal payout. The representative action remains pending after the June 2026 CJEU referral, so check the official register and keep your records rather than assuming money is already owed.
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