From a major child safety ruling against Meta to important developments in UK data breach claims, August has already brought plenty for consumers to keep an eye on.
There’s also good news for millions waiting for Mastercard compensation, fresh scrutiny of period tracker privacy and several new data breaches that could potentially lead to legal action.
Social media harm claim
We highlighted the potential social media harm claim last month, but a major US ruling against Meta has put it firmly back on our radar.
Meta has been ordered to pay a further $567 million after a New Mexico judge ruled that harms associated with Facebook and Instagram amounted to a “public nuisance”. Combined with an earlier $375 million jury award, Meta has now been ordered to pay $942 million in the case – although it will appeal.
The ruling does not apply to UK users. However, it comes as scrutiny of social media platforms is growing here too, with at least one UK law firm investigating whether people allegedly harmed by social media as children could have grounds to seek compensation.
You could be affected if:
- You experienced harm linked to social media while growing up
- Your child has experienced mental health issues or other harms you believe were linked to social media use.
What to do now
Register your interest, and we’ll let you know if a claim moves forward with one of our partner law firms.
Legal Aid Agency data breach claim
People pursuing compensation following the Legal Aid Agency (LAA) data breach have received an important update.
According to an update sent to claimants by one law firm, the LAA has admitted that it failed to comply with its data security obligations under UK GDPR and that this failure materially contributed to personal data being unlawfully accessed during the cyberattack.
You could be affected if:
The breach potentially exposed highly sensitive information belonging to people who had applied for legal aid through the LAA’s digital service since 2007.
What to do now
Think you may have been affected? We can help you find out more about the Legal Aid Agency data breach claim and check your eligibility.
Mastercard compensation
Millions of UK consumers are getting closer to receiving their share of the £200 million Mastercard settlement after the final legal dispute holding up distribution was resolved.
At least £100 million is expected to go directly to eligible consumers, with individual payments currently estimated at £45 to £70 depending on how many people register.
You could be affected if:
You don’t need to have owned or used a Mastercard to qualify. The original claim alleged that unlawful fees charged to retailers were passed on to shoppers through higher prices. If you bought goods or services from UK businesses that accepted Mastercard in the affected period, you could be eligible.
What to do now
The claims process is expected to open in the coming months. Payments are currently expected in the first half of 2027. We’ll let you know when the official claims process opens. You can also find out more on our website.
Flo privacy claim
The way period tracking apps handle sensitive health information is back under scrutiny following new research into six of the world’s most popular apps. The findings come amid ongoing questions surrounding Flo following legal action in the US over allegations that sensitive information about users’ reproductive health was shared with third parties.
Last month, we highlighted that Flo Health, Google and Flurry had agreed to pay $59.5 million to settle a US lawsuit. Could a UK claim follow?
You could be affected if:
You used the Flo app in the UK between 30 June 2016 and 23 February 2019.
What to do now
Register with Join the Claim, and we’ll keep you updated if one of our trusted UK partner law firms takes this claim forward.
We have also published a new guide explaining what period and fertility tracking apps can collect, how different apps approach privacy and what the Flo allegations could mean for UK users.
Beacon CRM data breach
People who donate to, volunteer with or receive support from UK charities could have had their personal information caught up in a cyber incident involving Beacon CRM.
Beacon provides customer relationship management software to more than 1,000 charities. It says an unauthorised third party used compromised credentials to make copies of database backups containing customer information. Exactly which organisations and individuals are affected is still being established.
You could be affected if:
- You donated to or volunteered with a charity using Beacon CRM
- You received services or support from an affected charity
- A charity has contacted you to say your information may have been involved
What to do now
If you’re contacted by a charity about the breach, read the notification carefully and remain alert for phishing attempts. We’ll keep you updated if potential legal action develops.
Department for Education data breach
More than 600,000 records have been accessed in a cyberattack affecting Department for Education systems. The DfE says the affected information may include names, job titles, email addresses, phone numbers and, in some cases, business addresses.
You could be affected if:
- You contacted the Department for Education using its Customer Help Portal
- You used the Turing Scheme portal
- The DfE has contacted you to say your information may have been involved
What to do now
Anyone potentially affected should remain particularly cautious about unexpected emails, calls or messages claiming to come from government departments or educational organisations. We’ll continue monitoring the investigation and any potential legal action.
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