The Google+ hack was one of the novels of 2018 . By then, it was discovered that Google's failed social network had been compromised in 2015 and that half a million users had been affected. Those of Mountain View did not reveal it in a timely manner and the scandal led to the definitive closure of the platform. But the story did not end there. Shortly after, a class action lawsuit was filed against the Californian company, which ended in mid-2020 with the settlement for financial compensation that began to be paid in the last hours.
The peculiar fact is that the sum of money received by each of those who signed the lawsuit was US $ 2.15. Yes, two dollars and fifteen cents . Without a doubt, it is a ridiculous closing for a judicial adventure that began almost three years ago.
The news was reported on Tuesday, August 2 through the official website of the class action lawsuit for the Google+ hack. According to the formal data, it is expected that all the people who presented valid claims have received the laughable compensation by next August 14.
The Google+ hack and financial compensation laughable
Clearly, the sum of $ 2.15 that the plaintiffs have already begun to collect is not fanciful. According to Ars Technica, the case for the Google+ hack was resolved in June 2020 with an agreement between the parties. In it, Google promised to pay 7.5 million dollars as compensation for what happened. But practically half of that figure went to pay legal and administrative expenses.
And the rest? What was left of the money was divided among 1,720,029 people who correctly presented the documentation as part of the reconciliation group. In this way, then, there were already several who received their “incredible” $ 2.15 through a bank transfer or through PayPal.
Several edges emerge from this story. On the one hand, it is clear that the Google+ hack has cost the Mountain View corporation really cheap. Considering the economic volumes handled by companies of this type, US $ 7.5 million means practically nothing.
On the other hand, it represents a slap on the wrist for those who perhaps thought they would get rich simply by taking Google to court . Let us be clear: the claim of the users affected by the violation of their personal data was fair, and the company should be held responsible for its actions.
But it is also inevitable to believe that, among the nearly two million individuals who shared the money, there were possibly many who tried to take advantage of the situation to “squeeze” the coffers of Californians. Whatever the case, this novel ends up being a fiasco almost as big as Google+ itself .
