AT&T data breach settlement: How consumers can claim their money

"Several lawsuits emerged across the U.S.-and were later consolidated-after AT&T notified millions of customers that information ranging from Social Security numbers to call records were compromised in these breaches last year. Plaintiffs alleged that the telecommunications giant "repeatedly failed" to protect consumer data. While AT&T has continued to deny wrongdoing, it opted to settle earlier this year."

""We have agreed to this settlement to avoid the expense and uncertainty of protracted litigation," AT&T said in a Thursday statement, adding that the company remains "committed to protecting our customers' data and ensuring their continued trust in us." Eligible consumers have until Dec. 18 to file for a settlement payment-which will still need a judge's final stamp of approval early next year. Here's what you should know."

"Both were disclosed in 2024-but involve data belonging to millions of current and former AT&T customers. AT&T disclosed the first of these breaches in March 2024, after the company said it found that customer information from 2019 or earlier had been released on the "dark web" weeks earlier. At the time, AT&T said the breach impacted roughly 7.6 million current and 65.4 million former account holders-with leaked data including some sensitive info like Social Security numbers and passcodes."

AT&T agreed to a combined $177 million settlement resolving claims tied to two separate data breaches disclosed in 2024. Millions of current and former customers had information exposed, including Social Security numbers, passcodes, and comprehensive call and text records. One breach released older customer data from 2019 or earlier onto the "dark web," affecting roughly 7.6 million current and 65.4 million former account holders. The other breach involved illegal download of call and text records from a third-party cloud platform covering May–October 2022 and a subset from Jan. 2, 2023. Eligible consumers must file claims by Dec. 18 and the settlement requires judicial approval.

Read at 6abc Philadelphia