Did GameStop Sell Private Data to Facebook? Customers to Receive Share of $4.5M Settlement

About the GameStop Facebook Privacy Lawsuit

A 2025 lawsuit accused GameStop of selling its customers’ personal information to Facebook over a period of several years. Plaintiffs say this occurred without customer consent—and that it was far from an accidental mishap. GameStop allegedly utilized the Facebook Tracking Pixel (also called the Meta Pixel) to capture customer activity in order to share it with Facebook.

The class action lawsuit claims that GameStop’s actions put customer data at risk by violating privacy laws. Those who had a Facebook account when they purchased a video game from GameStop between August 18th, 2020, and April 17th, 2025, are potentially impacted.

Though GameStop continues to maintain that it committed no wrongdoing, the gaming company has agreed to a $4.5 million settlement. Affected customers can receive up to a $5 cash payment or a $10 voucher credited to their GameStop account.

What Are Tracking Pixels?

Tracking pixels (like the Facebook or Meta Pixel referenced in the lawsuit) are invisible images embedded into webpages or emails designed to collect data. When incorporated into websites, tracking pixels can silently spy on user activity (like clicks, purchases, and other behavior). 

The GameStop Privacy Lawsuit accuses the gaming company of using this technology to collect customer information to sell it to Facebook. This was done without customer knowledge or consent, which plaintiffs claim violates privacy laws.

Though tracking pixels by nature are not illegal, their use is heavily regulated to protect web user privacy. Companies that fail to comply with regulations related to tracking pixels may end up violating privacy laws, putting them in legal hot water. 

Which Privacy Laws Did GameStop Potentially Violate?

According to the lawsuit, GameStop may have violated the Video Privacy Protection Act (VPPA). This law was enacted in 1988 to prevent the wrongful disclosure of media rental and sale records, including those pertaining to video game purchases.   

The VPPA explicitly prohibits service providers from “knowingly disclos[ing], to any person, personally identifiable information concerning any consumer of such provider.” Plaintiffs allege that GameStop’s actions were a blatant violation of this provision. 

What Customer Data Was Shared?

Impacted GameStop consumers may worry about what personal information was stolen—and how it was used by Facebook. 

GameStop allegedly used tracking pixels to share personally identifiable information (PII) with the social media monolith. According to the lawsuit, the PII illegally disclosed by GameStop included customer email addresses and the names of video games they purchased. 

The popular retailer is accused of compiling this data into lists and uploading them to Facebook. From there, Facebook allegedly used the lists to match GameStop customers to their respective Facebook profiles—which frequently include users’ full names, dates of birth, gender, and other sensitive information. 

How Did Facebook Use The Disclosed Data?

GameStop customers may have concerns about how their personal data was used by Facebook. Though it hasn’t been confirmed how Facebook used the specific data collected by GameStop, the social media platform has been known to use information collected via the Meta Pixel for advertising purposes. Such purposes include: 

• To build detailed user profiles to track browsing habits, purchases, and other actions across multiple websites
• To serve targeted advertisements personalized to user preferences and online activity
• To retarget users who showed interest in a product or store with personalized ads

Who is Eligible for the GameStop Facebook Privacy Settlement?

Wondering if you qualify for a portion of the $4.5 million settlement? According to the official GameStop settlement website, claimants must meet a few requirements, including:

• Must have purchased a video game from GameStop’s website between August 18, 2020, and April 17, 2025; and 
• Must have maintained a public Facebook profile under their real name when they made the purchase.

Plaintiffs must submit a link to or a screenshot of their public Facebook page to prove they meet the settlement requirements. 

Visit the settlement website to understand the full eligibility criteria and whether you may be able to submit a claim. 

How Do Affected Consumers Submit A Claim?

Impacted GameStop customers interested in claiming their portion of the $4.5 million settlement can submit a claim online or by mail to the address listed on the settlement page. The settlement deadline is August 15, 2025; all claims must be submitted online or postmarked before this date to qualify.

Please note that individuals wishing to submit a claim online must provide a Unique ID number, provided via the Email Notice sent to Settlement Class Members. Those who believe they qualify but didn’t receive an Email Notice can submit a paper claim form without a Unique ID number.

What Information Is Needed To Submit A Claim? 

To submit a claim and take part in the settlement, impacted individuals must provide information including: 

• Full name
• Address
• Email address
• Phone number (optional)
• Proof of Facebook account at time of purchase (link or screenshot)

To submit a claim online, settlement class members must also provide the Unique ID number they received in their Email Notice. Those who didn’t receive an Email Notice or a Unique ID number can complete a paper claim form instead.

How Much Will Claimants Receive?

The GameStop gross settlement amount is $4.5 million. This means that the company has agreed to pay up to this amount, including all valid claims, attorneys’ fees, and other administrative expenses.

Upon submitting a valid claim, each settlement class member is eligible for either a cash payment of up to $5 or a voucher of up to $10. Vouchers can be redeemed on GameStop’s website.

The settlement hearing is scheduled for September 18, 2025. If the settlement is approved, claimants should receive their portions within 45 days of this date.

GameStop Facebook Privacy Settlement Fast Facts

Deadline to File a Claim: August 15, 2025

Payout Amount: $5 to $10

Proof Needed: To prove they were a member of Facebook at the time of their GameStop purchase, claimants must submit a link to or screenshot of their public Facebook profile. Visit the settlement website for full information regarding how to submit a claim, and the legal implications of your election to file a claim, opt-out, or object to the settlement. This page does not provide legal advice.