【Western Archives】

Attention U.S.-based TikTok users — you may be Western Archivesentitled to a part of the $92 million class-action lawsuit settlement against the app.

If you used either TikTok or its sister app Musical.ly before Sept. 30, you are eligible to file a claim for yourself or (for parents) minors who have used the app.

The lawsuit against TikTok, filed by the District Court for Northern District of Illinois, alleged that the company violated Illinois' biometric privacy laws by collecting and used personal data of users without "sufficient notice and consent."

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"Specifically, Plaintiffs allege that the TikTok app infiltrates its users’ devices and extracts a broad array of private data including biometric data and content that Defendants use to track and profile TikTok users for the purpose of, among other things, ad targeting and profit," read the settlement agreement filed in Feb. 2021.

Though TikTok denied all charges, the company agreed to settle. TikTok also updated its privacy policy in June.

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On Monday, TikTok sent a notification through their app for U.S. users, which announced the settlement and included a link to a website detailing how to make a claim. So, how do you apply?

Quick everybody, go sign up for your $5 from the Tiktok class action lawsuit. pic.twitter.com/7qVI1lwvJp

— Star⁷ (@xingou) November 15, 2021

Who can apply?

Anyone in the U.S. who used TikTok prior to Sept. 30, 2021 is eligible to make a claim. In Illinois, anyone who used the app within the state or created videos in it prior to that date is eligible. If you belong to the latter, you may be entitled to six times the payment. This is because there are certain claims within the lawsuit that are specific to just Illinois residents. Parents can apply on behalf of minors.

When do I apply?

Well, now! You must submit a claim form by Mar. 1, 2022, according to the court documents. So there's time. The final approval hearing will take place on May 18, 2022. Payments will not be made before then.

How to apply?

If you're eligible, you have to submit a valid claim form. You can apply through this online form or via mail — here's the claim form you'll need to print out. You will have to provide basic information for yourself (or if you're applying as a parent/guardian, for the child). This includes your TikTok username(s), and your preferred Payment option: PayPal, Venmo, virtual prepaid card, or a physical check.

To complete the form online, select the "click here" button on the right side of the page. Credit: Screenshot / tiktokdataprivacysettlement.com

The best part? It took one of Mashable's team literally 90 seconds to file an online claim, so the whole process is fairly quick. But if you want a closer run-through, turn to the app itself: there's a good TikTok about how to file a class action against TikTok, courtesy of @thelawyerangela.

After all that is done, you can eagerly await your pending (and probably not huge) payment. Fingers crossed.

Topics Privacy TikTok

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