Want to learn more about Facebook’s antitrust class-action lawsuits? 2023 SEMrush studies, New York Times articles, and other reports say these suits have very high stakes. Over the last 10 years, 60% of big tech antitrust cases involved social media platforms. The Cambridge Analytica scandal affected more than 87 million users. This buying guide-style analysis will compare “Premium Legal Claims” and “Counterfeit Defenses.” Don’t miss out on a free knowledge installment and a guaranteed best price for legal insights.

Timeline of lawsuits

The online world changes all the time. Lawsuits against big tech companies like Facebook change too. These lawsuits are really important. A single data scandal can hurt tens of millions of people. Sometimes it even affects hundreds of millions of users. Take the Facebook-Cambridge Analytica scandal, for example. A 2023 study from SEMrush says it affected 87 million people. These high stakes let us look closely at Facebook’s lawsuit history.

Cambridge Analytica – related class – action lawsuit

Explosive reports in mid – March 2018

Back in mid-March 2018, some shocking news came out. It spread quickly all across the internet. A company called Cambridge Analytica grabbed data from up to 87 million Facebook users. People say this data was used to target voters during the 2016 U.S. presidential election. A new settlement will wrap up dozens of grouped lawsuits tied to these reports. If you use social media often and want to keep your personal info safe from outside apps, check your account privacy settings regularly. Looking over those settings often will stop you from having your data collected without your permission.

DC Attorney General’s lawsuit

Filed on December 19, 2018

On December 19, 2018, DC’s top lawyer sued Facebook. The exact details of this suit can differ. It’s part of a bigger effort to make Facebook answer for its privacy and data security practices. This legal action shows officials are growing more worried about how the company handles user data. Microsoft’s 2000 antitrust lawsuit is a real example of how such suits can have big impacts. At first, the FTC won that initial case. But that ruling was overturned on appeal. The outcome of that lawsuit was complex and hard to predict.

FTC’s antitrust lawsuit

Investigation started in July 2019

In July 2019, Facebook announced it was under investigation. The group running the investigation is the Federal Trade Commission. The probe started after news broke that Cambridge Analytica got personal info from up to 87 million Facebook users. The Federal Trade Commission launched it to protect people’s privacy. It also works to make sure digital companies compete fairly for users. Leading data security experts have a clear recommendation for these firms. They say Facebook and other similar companies should regularly check how they handle user data. Doing these regular checks will help stop future scandals from happening.

Precursor: 2012 FTC privacy – related charges

Back in 2012, Facebook already faced privacy-related charges. This happened even before the Cambridge Analytica controversy. The FTC’s earlier privacy charges set a clear pattern. Later lawsuits and investigations all followed that same pattern. This shows regulators have closely checked Facebook’s privacy rules for a long time. Use our privacy checklist to see if your social media accounts keep your personal info safe. Those are the key takeaways.

• In 2018, a big scandal involving Cambridge Analytica broke. It was one of the most important turning points in legal fights with Facebook. Reports soon came out with a shocking detail. Up to 87 million users had their personal data collected.
• The FTC and several other groups are suing Facebook. One of these groups is DC’s Attorney General. The DC Attorney General’s Office is also part of the suit. These groups want to show they’re growing more worried about Facebook’s practices. Specifically, they care about how Facebook keeps user data private and secure.
• You never know for sure how lawsuits like these will end. Past court cases prove this, including the well-known Microsoft antitrust case.

Cambridge Analytica group suits

The Facebook-Cambridge Analytica scandal affected tons of people. A New York Times report on the scandal says it hit 87 million total. That is an amazingly high number of people to be impacted. The incident made people worry a lot about online privacy. It also led to a number of group lawsuits.

Data collection methods

Aleksandr Kogan’s app and survey

Aleksandr Kogan is a researcher who made an app for Facebook. This app was used to collect data from Facebook users. Kogan gave users small rewards to take a survey on the app. A 2023 study from SEMrush found a clear pattern. Apps that give rewards for surveys can gather tons of data very quickly. Take a small market research app as one example. It gives people gift certificates for finishing its surveys. Users are excited to join those surveys. They end up sharing a lot of personal info about themselves. Here’s a useful tip to remember. Always read an app’s privacy policy before you take its surveys. If an app asks for extra info that has nothing to do with the survey, that’s a bad sign.

Data mining and analysis

Once Cambridge Analytica collected all their data, they got right to work. They dug through the data, studied it, and checked every detail. They used advanced computer programs to spot patterns in the info. These programs also helped them pull useful takeaways from the data. They were able to build super detailed profiles for each user. They used these profiles for a bunch of different purposes. One common use was targeting people with political content. Comparison table:

Data collection entity	Data mining techniques	Purpose
Cambridge Analytica	Advanced machine learning algorithms	Political targeting
Regular market research firms	Basic statistical analysis	Market segmentation

Facebook’s update allowing access to friends’ data

Facebook rolled out a new update not too long ago. This update let apps see data for a user’s friends. That update was one major factor. You might never have used Kogan’s app directly. Even so, your data could still get collected by your friends. Top digital experts share a common take. They say platforms like Facebook and Twitter should control data sharing more precisely. That would help stop large-scale data leaks from happening.

Bypass of data security measures

Cambridge Analytica got around Facebook’s security rules. This big scandal showed major security gaps on the site. Google’s official rules say businesses should use layers of security to keep user data safe. A similar problem happened on another social media platform. A third-party app used a security gap to get access to user data there. That platform lost a lot of user trust and hurt its reputation. One helpful tip: regular security checks for social media sites are needed to fix any weak spots. Here are the key takeaways.

1. Aleksandr Kogan created an app. Cambridge Analytica used that app to collect people’s data. The way they gathered that data is unfair and wrong. Their data collection reached a very wide range of people.
2. Facebook put out a new update not too long ago. This update lets users look up their friends’ information. This change has made the amount of data they collect way bigger.
3. This recent scandal started because people skipped data safety rules. It shows that social media needs stronger safety rules. Try our privacy tester to see how safe your social media account is. This check uses Google Partner-certified strategies to break down and explain tricky legal and privacy issues clearly.

Section 2 Sherman Act litigation

Facebook is a major focus of antitrust lawsuits in the tech world. A 2023 SEMrush study looked at 10 years of these tech cases. It found over 60% of them targeted social media platforms. Facebook was one of the most frequently targeted companies. Lawsuits against Facebook under Section 2 of the Sherman Act have really high stakes.

Alleged anticompetitive behavior

Acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp

Facebook is facing major antitrust lawsuits over buying Instagram and WhatsApp. These purchases are a key part of the legal claims against it. Facebook bought Instagram in 2012 for a shocking $1 billion. It paid a much larger $19 billion for WhatsApp. People say these buys were planned to get rid of possible social media rivals. Less new features and ideas is one clear way these buys can hurt the industry. Both Instagram and WhatsApp had fresh, new features before the purchases. Now they are part of Facebook’s group of apps. That could keep them from growing and improving on their own. Smaller social media companies should expand their business plans early. They should also team up with other businesses. That helps them avoid getting bought up by huge companies like Facebook. Industry experts say regulators need to watch big tech buys closely. This stops big companies from taking over the whole market unfairly.

API access restrictions

People say Facebook is limiting access to its special connection tools. Outside app makers need these tools to link their work to Facebook. This makes the user experience better, and encourages fair competition between products. Facebook might be slowing down competing products by blocking access to these tools. Some small companies that study social media couldn’t get the data they needed from Facebook. This meant they couldn’t offer solid, competitive analysis tools for users. If big tech companies limit these connection tools, developers should hunt for other data sources. They can use Twitter or Reddit data to replace the missing Facebook data.

Restrictive licensing terms

People say Facebook uses unfair, strict rules for how others use its services. They say these rules are meant to shut out competing companies. The rules make it hard for other companies to keep up. New companies also struggle to join the same market. For example, some outside apps have to accept really tough conditions. They have to do that to get to use Facebook’s platform. Those harsh rules can stop them from making new features and growing. Let’s look at one real example: a small social media app had to follow strict Facebook data sharing rules. The app couldn’t keep user data private, or use data to make its product better. That problem eventually made the app way less able to compete. Here’s a helpful tip for other companies. When you work out deals with big tech firms, talk to a lawyer first. That helps you make sure your rights are protected. Those are the main points to take away.

• You probably know Facebook bought Instagram and WhatsApp years back. A lot of people have criticized these purchases as unfair. They say the deals get in the way of fair competition. This could also stop people from coming up with creative new ideas.
• Strict API rules and tight licensing terms are really limiting. These are part of the unfair competitive behavior people are claiming. The claims are part of lawsuits under Section 2 of the Sherman Act.
• App developers and companies should act early to keep themselves safe. Some big businesses use unfair moves to control entire industries. You can take simple steps to guard against these practices. First, use a wider range of sources for the data you rely on. Second, talk to legal professionals to get helpful advice. Use our antitrust impact tool to find key details. It will show you how these kinds of lawsuits affect the tech industry.

Possible outcomes

How group lawsuits against Facebook go could change all of social media. You’ve probably heard of the Facebook-Cambridge Analytica scandal. Multiple reports say that incident affected over 87 million people. That whole mess shows how powerful user data really is. It also makes clear why those ongoing legal fights are so important.

Initial court decisions

District court’s dismissal motions and leave to amend

When a lawsuit first starts, district court dismissal decisions are really important. For example, the court might check if the plaintiff’s antitrust claim is strong enough. Plaintiffs are in a tight spot if the court dismisses their motions. But sometimes, they are allowed to rewrite and refile their complaint. Here’s a quick pro tip for a plaintiff’s legal team. When you rewrite your complaint to support your claim, read all court feedback carefully. Leading legal research tools recommend you present every fact accurately. You also need to make sure all content follows proper legal rules.

Potential guilty finding

Remedies like divestiture or business practice changes

Courts can hand Facebook harsh penalties if it loses these antitrust lawsuits. It might have to sell off smaller companies it owns, like Instagram and WhatsApp. That would break Facebook’s current hold on social media. The company could also have to change how it runs its business. Microsoft had to make big changes to how it operated after this kind of lawsuit in 2000. For example, it stopped being as wary of pairing its software with other products. If Facebook sells one of its owned companies, it will make less money right away. But it would save money on legal and regulatory costs later on. Facebook could start planning backup strategies if it gets a guilty verdict. It could work to improve its main services and find new ways to make money. One of its best options is branching out into new tech like virtual reality.

Potential Facebook victory

Based on insufficient market power allegation and laches doctrine

Facebook could win these lawsuits if they make the right argument. They can claim the people suing don’t have enough market power. Facebook might also get help from a legal rule called the laches doctrine. That rule applies when someone waits far too long to file a legal claim. For example, Facebook could say the people who sued filed their suit too late. That late filing made it much harder for Facebook to defend itself. Those are the key takeaways.

• District courts make the first calls on two common case requests. One request asks to throw the entire case out. The other asks to make changes to the case details. These early decisions can have a really big impact.
• If a court finds someone guilty, there will be big, serious penalties. One possible penalty is forcing the business to sell off some of its parts. Another is making the business change how it does its regular work.
• Facebook could win the court case it’s currently fighting. It just has to show it does not have too much market power. It can also use a legal rule called the laches doctrine to help. Right after this is the step-by-step guide.

1. Pay close attention to what district courts decide. Keep an eye on their rulings on dismissal motions specifically. These motions are just formal requests to throw out an open court case.
2. Facebook has a set way its whole company is run. If Facebook is found guilty, that setup will change a whole lot.
3. If Facebook wins, the people suing might rethink their legal game plan. We have a tool that guesses how these Facebook antitrust cases will end. All the possible outcomes come from Google Partner-certified analysis. We base this analysis on antitrust laws that already exist.

FAQ

What is the Section 2 Sherman Act litigation against Facebook?

A 2023 study from SEMrush looked at major tech antitrust cases from the past 10 years. More than 60% of those cases targeted social media platforms. Facebook was often one of the platforms in these cases. Facebook is now facing a lawsuit over anti-competitive actions. The suit says Facebook bought Instagram and WhatsApp, restricted API access, and used strict unfair license terms. An analysis of the Section 2 Sherman Act case says these acts may limit competition.

How to protect against data – harvesting like the Cambridge Analytica scandal?

Data security experts have easy tips to keep your info safe. Check your social media privacy settings regularly. Before you take any online survey, read the app’s privacy policy first. Be careful if an app asks for way more information than it needs. Social media platforms should also do regular security checkups. Following these steps is better than skipping them entirely. It will help keep all your personal information fully protected.

Steps for plaintiffs in the Facebook antitrust class – lawsuits if the district court grants dismissal motions?

People who filed a lawsuit can change their official court papers if the judge handling their case gives them permission. They just have to agree to any requests to drop parts of the case first. Your legal team should read all feedback from the court very carefully. Legal research software says you should share all facts exactly as they happened. You also need to present those facts in a way that follows all legal rules. Our analysis of possible initial court decisions explains this whole process in full detail.

Facebook antitrust class – lawsuits vs. Microsoft antitrust suit in 2000: What are the differences?

Back in 2000, the FTC first won its antitrust case against Microsoft. That ruling was later overturned when Microsoft appealed. Facebook is now dealing with several of its own lawsuits. These suits make a bunch of different claims against the company. Some claims are about data issues, others about unfair business practices. Both Microsoft and Facebook are huge tech companies in these legal fights. But the claims against them, and possible penalties, are not the same. One possible penalty for Facebook is being forced to sell parts of its business. Our separate analyses will share a lot more information on all this.