It’s rare to find truly free money – we almost always pay for things, whether it’s with our time, effort, or even our privacy. So while a payout from a tech company might not be exactly “free,” it’s often the result of that company mishandling user data or engaging in questionable practices, and you’re rightfully due compensation. If you use popular platforms, there’s a good chance you might be entitled to some cash back. Here are five major settlements where that could be you:
YouTube Kids Privacy Fiasco
Remember when everyone was freaking out about how much data Google collects? Well, in 2019, a lawsuit alleged that Google (YouTube’s parent company) actively collected data from children under 13 without their parents’ consent. The case went through numerous amendments and finally reached a ruling in January 2025. While the judge didn’t agree with all of the plaintiff’s claims, they found that Google engaged in “highly offensive conduct” regarding its data collection practices.
The result? A $30 million settlement – though Google denies any wrongdoing. If your child (or you!) watched YouTube videos between July 1, 2013, and April 1, 2020, when under the age of 13, there’s a good chance you’re eligible to file a claim on the dedicated settlement website.
AT&T Data Breach Fallout
AT&T customers were in for an unwelcome surprise between 2019 and 2024: multiple data breaches rocked the telecommunications giant. The fallout? A whopping $177 million settlement. The company committed to notifying affected customers between August and October 2025. If you haven’t heard from AT&T yet, it might be worth checking directly with them or looking into the official settlement website for details on how to file a claim.
Facebook: The Cambridge Analytica Consequence
Remember that Facebook scandal involving Cambridge Analytica and harvested user data? Well, it finally led to payouts starting last month (2025). While there was a deadline in 2023 to submit a claim – who remembers that far back anyway?– those eligible should start receiving emails alerting them to upcoming payments.
Amazon Prime: Unclear Enrollment Practices
In a surprising move, Amazon agreed to pay out $1.5 billion to roughly 35 million customers last month. The reason? Alleged deceptive practices regarding its Prime membership program, specifically how users signed up for the service between 2019 and 2025. Amazon claims it was using certain “challenged enrollment flows” that led to confusion and potentially unwanted subscriptions. Automatic payments will be made to some customers, while others may receive a claims form directly from Amazon. Mashable has excellent coverage if you want more details on this particular settlement.
Anthropic: The AI Author Payday
Anthropic, an artificial intelligence company, recently agreed to pay $1.5 billion to authors alleging that their works were used to train Anthropic’s AI models without permission. This settlement hinges on the “Books3” dataset which allegedly contains tens of thousands of copyrighted books – a huge red flag for ethical AI development. However, the judge overseeing the case has expressed doubts about the validity of this agreement, leaving its future uncertain.
The Authors Guild victory is just the tip of the iceberg. Expect more lawsuits against AI companies to emerge, especially regarding the use of copyrighted material in training algorithms. You can check if your work was part of Anthropic’s potentially problematic “Books3” dataset through a searchable database published by The Atlantic.
These recent settlements highlight a growing trend: consumers and creators are demanding accountability from big tech companies for their data practices and ethical lapses. As technology evolves, it’s likely these legal battles will become even more common – and potentially offer us even more chances to get paid back for our online experiences.
