Zoom Shared Your Video Data With Facebook and Google Without Telling You — A Settlement Was Reached

The short version: Zoom Video Communications embedded tracking software in its iOS app that automatically sent personal information — including your name, email address, device details, and data about your use of the app — to Facebook and Google, without telling users this was happening or getting consent. When this was discovered in 2020, lawsuits followed. Zoom agreed to pay $85 million to settle. The claim filing window is now closed.

What Zoom Actually Did

This isn't a case about hackers breaking in. Zoom did this itself — by using standard industry tracking tools in a way that most users had no idea about.

Here's how it worked in plain terms:

The lawsuits also raised concerns about Zoom's claims that its meetings were "end-to-end encrypted." The complaints argued that Zoom's calls were not encrypted in the way the company described, meaning Zoom itself could potentially access the content of video meetings.^[1]

Zoom removed the Facebook SDK from its iOS app within about a week of the first news reports in March 2020, and updated its privacy policy.^[2] But by then, lawsuits were already being filed.

The $85 Million Settlement

The lawsuits were consolidated into a single federal case in California: In re: Zoom Video Communications Privacy Litigation, No. 5:20-cv-02155-LHK, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.^[3]

Zoom agreed to pay $85 million to settle. The settlement received final approval from the court in October 2022.^[3] Zoom did not admit wrongdoing.

The settlement administrator was Kroll Settlement Administration, which handled the distribution of funds.^[4]

Who Was Eligible

Anyone with a U.S. Zoom account who used the service between March 30, 2016 and July 30, 2021 was eligible to file a claim.^[4] That covers a huge number of people — essentially the entire pandemic-era user base, plus several years before.

Paid Zoom subscribers — people who paid for a Zoom Pro, Business, or Enterprise plan — were eligible for proportionally more than free users. The reasoning was that paying customers had a stronger relationship with Zoom and a stronger expectation that the company was being straightforward about how their data was handled.^[4]

The claims deadline has passed. If you used Zoom during the covered period and did not file a claim, you cannot go back to collect from this settlement.

What Zoom Changed After the Settlement

As part of the settlement, Zoom also agreed to take certain steps to improve its privacy practices going forward. These included:^[4]

• Reviewing its use of third-party tracking tools and implementing additional oversight
• Providing clearer notices to users about data collection practices
• Training employees responsible for privacy on applicable laws and Zoom's policies
• Reviewing meeting security and privacy settings annually

Whether you believe those steps are enough is a separate question — but they represent at least some acknowledgment that the practices that led to the lawsuit were worth changing.

Why This Case Matters Beyond Zoom

The Zoom case is a good example of a pattern that plays out constantly in the tech industry: companies embed third-party tools — advertising trackers, analytics software, social media SDKs — into their apps as a matter of routine business practice. Most of the time, users have no idea this is happening. And most of the time, companies don't clearly disclose it.

The legal question the Zoom case turned on wasn't whether data sharing is inherently bad. It was whether Zoom had been honest with its users about what it was doing with their information. Courts have increasingly been willing to hold companies accountable when the answer is no.

This means that the pattern of cases like Zoom — app uses your data in ways you didn't agree to, lawsuits follow, settlement is reached — will keep repeating. The best thing you can do as a consumer is stay informed about what's happening and make sure you don't miss a settlement you qualify for.

Common Questions

I used Zoom during the pandemic. Can I still get money?

The deadline to file a claim in this settlement has passed. If you used Zoom between March 30, 2016 and July 30, 2021 and didn't file a claim, you cannot recover from this specific settlement. However, you can submit the form on this page to be notified about future privacy cases that may apply to you.

I don't have a Facebook account. Why would Zoom share my data with Facebook?

That was one of the most striking parts of this case. Zoom's iOS app included Facebook's advertising SDK, which automatically sent device and app information to Facebook simply when you opened Zoom — regardless of whether you had a Facebook account or not. Facebook's tracking tools are embedded in thousands of apps and work this way across the industry.

How much did people receive from the Zoom settlement?

We do not publish individual payment estimates and will not speculate. Payments varied based on account type (paid vs. free) and the total number of valid claims filed. Paid subscribers received more than free users by design.

Did Zoom admit it did something wrong?

No. Zoom settled without admitting wrongdoing, which is standard in cases of this kind.

Are there other cases like this involving apps I use?

Almost certainly yes. Privacy lawsuits involving apps, websites, and tech platforms are among the most active areas of consumer law right now. Use the form below to stay in the loop — if we find a case that matches your situation, someone will reach out.

What's the difference between this and the Facebook settlement?

The Facebook / Meta settlement was about Facebook sharing user data with outside companies like Cambridge Analytica. The Zoom case was about Zoom sharing data with Facebook (and Google) through tracking tools embedded in the Zoom app — the opposite direction. Both resulted in settlements. Both filing deadlines have now passed.