[shbooms]

I think GP's point is that the amount of the settlement is not enough given the total number of users involved, rather than the class action itself is insignificant.

In my opinion, in these type of cases, the amount should be directly correlated to how much revenue the company generated from the sale of the data. If the sale of my data is deemed illegal/unethical/etc, then I should reap all financial benefits plus damages.

What's stopping FB from just continuing this practice and just upping their costs to their customers to include this added "cost" of doing business?

[ethbr0]

It's a good point. More hyperscale excesses would be redressed if we calculated on the greater of damages or profits.

My understanding of the current model is that if {profit} - {legal fees} > {calculated damages settlement}, there's zero incentive not to break the law.

[1123581321]

In Facebook’s privacy case there’s also a fine and an agreement to change behavior. https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2019/07/...

Generally, class actions can include changes in behavior as part of the settlement. Class actions also pave the way for bigger class actions if the behavior isn’t changed, especially since they often negotiated by claiming to have already spent resources fixing the issue and their claims and the settlement have to pass judicial approval.

I’m not saying it’s a perfect system.